Mazembe steal the day with massive win

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Feb 02, 2019. 23:27

TP Mazembe’s 8-0 thrashing of Club Africain was the headline-making result of Saturday’s CAF Champions League action, with the DRC giants running riot in Lubumbashi.

The Ravens have established themselves as favourites to advance alongside CS Constantine from Group C (which only features three teams following the disqualification of Ismaily) thanks to their massive win, with goals from Kevin Mondeko (two), Jackson Muleka (two), Tresor Mputu (two), Mika Miche and Meschak Elia.

Elsewhere, Wydad Casablanca claimed a crucial 1-0 away win at Nigeria’s Lobi Stars thanks to a first-half penalty from Mohammed Nahiri to join Mamelodi Sundowns on six point at the top of Group A; Horoya edged Platinum 1-0 to claim third place in Group B; and JS Saoura dented AS Vita’s Group D hopes with a late goal from Sid Yahia Cherif to salvage a 2-2 draw in Kinshasa.

The night games saw Al Ahly threaten to eclipse Mazembe’s earlier achievement, as they were 5-0 up at half time of their home clash with Simba SC, but in the end the Red Devils took their foot off the pedal and added no further goals in the second stanza. Nonetheless, they now enjoy a three-point advantage at the top of Group D.

In Soweto, Orlando Pirates remained top of Group B, level on five points with Esperance de Tunis when the teams drew 0-0, but the Buccaneers will feel it was a missed opportunity to open up same daylight between themselves and the ‘Blood and Gold’.

The CAF Confederation Cup will have its first group stage matches on Sunday and there are derbies aplenty. In Group A, Moroccan sides Hassania Agadir and Raja Casablanca will do battle, with their compatriot club RS Berkane away to AS Otoho in the Congo.

Group B features a Tunisian derby between Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien, as well as an all-West African clash between Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers and Burkina Faso’s Salitas, while Group C is headlined by the Zambian battle between Zesco United and Nkana.

The latter pool also sees an intriguing clash between Al Hilal and Asante Kotoko of Sudan and Ghana respectively, while Group D’s matches are Gor Mahia v Zamalek and Hussein Dey v Petro de Luanda.

CAF Champions League results, Saturday 2 February

Group A – Lobi Stars 0-1 Wydad Casablanca

Group B – Platinum 0-1 Horoya

Group B – Orlando Pirates 0-0 Esperance de Tunis

Group C – TP Mazembe 8-0 Club Africain

Group D – AS Vita 2-2 JS Saoura

Group D – Al Ahly 5-0 Simba SC

CAF Confederation Cup fixtures, Sunday 3 February (all times CAT)

Group A – AS Otoho v RS Berkane, 15h00

Group A – Hassania Agadir v Raja Casablanca, 21h00

Group B – Enugu Rangers v Salitas, 15h00

Group B – Etoile du Sahel v CS Sfaxien, 18h00

Group C – Al Hilal v Asante Kotoko, 18h00

Group C – Zesco United v Nkana, 18h00

Group D – Gor Mahia v Zamalek, 15h00

Group D – Hussein Dey v Petro Atletico, 21h00