Ahly, Simba and Mazembe off to winning starts

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jan 12, 2019. 23:30

The weekend’s CAF Champions League group stage matches wrapped up on Saturday and featured wins for TP Mazembe, Simba and Al Ahly.

The day’s action got underway in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, where FC Platinum held Orlando Pirates 0-0 in a Group B clash, while at the same time Mazembe and Simba were racking up comfortable homes wins over Ismaily (Group C, 2-0) and JS Saoura (Group D, 3-0).

Mazembe’s goals were scored by Chico Usindi and Kevin Mondeko in the second half, with the victory coming despite the DR Congo giants having Sylvain Gbohouo sent off just before the interval, while Simba’s win was inspired by a brace from Meddie Kagere.

Al Ahly joined Simba at the top of Group D on three points after they defeated 10-man AS Vita 2-0 in Alexandria in the only night game, with second-half goals from Nasser Maher and Ali Maaloul.

The CAF Confederation Cup also saw action on Saturday, with four first-leg, playoff round matches. The only win came in Zambia, where Nkana FC crushed Ivorian side San Pedro 3-0 with goals from Ronald Kampamba, Joseph Musonda and Festus Mbewe.

The other three games all finished in draws, leaving the ties evenly balanced. Stade Malien were held 1-1 at home by Petro Atletico, Raja Casablanca claimed a 1-1 draw at Namibia’s African Stars, and Uganda’s Vipers v Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien ended goalless.

The Confederation Cup continues on Sunday with 10 further first-leg, playoff round matches. The action starts in mid-afternoon in Kenya with Gor Mahia taking on New Stars Douala from Cameroon, and wraps up in the evening with Sudanese giants Al Hilal welcoming Rwanda’s Mukura Victory Sports to Omdurman.

In between, some of the key clashes include Zesco United taking on Kaizer Chiefs in a Southern African derby, Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers will fancy their chances of an away win at Lesotho’s Bantu FC, Cotonsport (Cameroon) take on Asante Kotoko (Ghana) in an all-West African battle, and North Africa will be enthralled by Morocco’s IR Tanger hosting Egyptian heavyweights Zamalek.

CAF Champions League results, 12 January

FC Platinum 0-0 Pirates
TP Mazembe 2-0 Ismaily
Simba 3-0 JS Saoura
Al Ahly 2-0 AS Vita

CAF Confederation Cup results, 12 January

Nkana 3-0 San Pedro
Vipers 0-0 CS Sfaxien
African Stars 1-1 Raja Casablanca
Stade Malien 1-1 Petro Atletico

CAF Confederation Cup fixtures, 13 January

Gor Mahia v New Stars Douala
Jimma Aba Jifar v Hassania Agadir
Zesco United v Kaizer Chiefs
Bantu FC v Enugu Rangers
As Otoho v KCCA
Coton Sport v Asante Kotoko
IR Tanger v Zamalek
Nasr Benghazi v Salitas
ASC Jaraaf v RS Berkane
Al Hilal v Mukura Victory Sports