Lean day for goals in CAF Champions League

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Feb 12, 2019. 23:31

Matchday 4 of the CAF Champions League was a lean one in front of goal, with just six strikes from seven matches across the African continent on Tuesday.

The headline result came from Tunisia in the afternoon, where Esperance de Tunis defeated Orlando Pirates 2-0, thanks to goals from Anice Badri and Haythem Jouini.

The victory saw the Blood and Gold take charge of Group B, while the Buccaneers – who suffered a first defeat after 27 games – dropped to third after Guinea’s Horoya AC won 2-0 at home to FC Platinum, with strikes from Ocansey Mandela and Hudu Yakubu.

Group C’s only game saw Club Africain hold TP Mazembe 0-0 – quite the turnaround in fortunes for the Tunisian side after they succumbed 8-0 in Lubumbashi when these teams earlier in the month.

In Group A, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Casablanca remain tied at the top, though both will feel they should have gotten more from their respective matches away to ASEC Mimosas and at home to Lobi Stars, both of which ended 0-0.

Group D featured a surprise 1-0 win for Tanzania’s Simba SC at home to Al Ahly. The Egyptian giants had whipped the Lions 5-0 in Alexandria 10 days ago, but were unable to reproduce their form in Dar es Salaam, as Meddie Kagere struck midway through the second half.

Ahly continue to lead the pool, but all four teams are now covered by just three points after JS Saoura defeated AS Vita 1-0 in Bechar thanks to a superb long-range strike from Ziri Hammar.

The Champions League will resume with Matchday 5 fixtures on 8-9 March.


CAF Champions League results, Tuesday 12 February

Group A – ASEC Mimosas 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns

Group A – Wydad Casablanca 0-0 Lobi Stars

Group B – Esperance de Tunis 2-0 Orlando Pirates

Group B – Horoya 2-0 FC Platinum

Group C – Club Africain 0-0 TP Mazembe

Group D – Simba SC 1-0 Al Ahly

Group D – JS Saoura 1-0 AS Vita