LUANDA – Egypt’s Zamalek has qualified for CAF Confederation Cup quarters-finals after their away goalless draw against Sagrada of Angola.
Modern Future of Egypt also played out a 0-0 draw with USM Alger of Algeria in a tightly contested match.
The result pushed the White Knights to lead Group B with 10 points from four matches as Sagrada lies in third position in the group with four points from four games.
Despite numerous goal-scoring opportunities, neither side secured a victory.
Zamalek had a total of 14 shots compared to seven from the Angolan team. Despite this statistic, the home team maintained higher ball possession (56 per cent vs. 44 per cent).
Elsewhere, Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at Diables Noirs to strengthen their position atop of Group D.
Congolese striker Alves Ngakosso-Oko gave the hosts a surprise lead on the 43rd minutes. But Youssef Zghoudi equalised for two-time winners Confederation Cup Berkane soon after half-time.
According to CAF official website, the point takes Berkane onto 10 points after four games to stand on the verge of the knockout phase.
Bottom club Diables Noirs remain stuck on just one point but gave the Moroccans, who won the competition in 2020 and 2022, a real test.
The match exploded into life when Ngakosso-Oko pounced to give Diables Noirs hope heading into the break.
Yet Berkane showed their champion quality with Zghoudi sweeping home the leveller on 53 minutes.
Both sides pressed for a winner but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils.
The stalemate still represented an excellent result for Berkane against plucky opponents who played the last half-hour with 10 men after Janard Mbemba’s red card.
Elsewhere, Tanzanian giants Young Africans revived their CAF Champions League hopes with an emphatic 3-0 home victory over 10-man Medeama.
Pacome Zouzoua broke the deadlock for the hosts after 31 minutes before second half strikes from Bakari Mwamnyeto and Mudathiri Yahya sealed the win.
The result leaves Young Africans second in Group D on goal difference behind leaders Al Ahly heading into the final two rounds.
It was a very different story for bottom side Medeama, who saw Jonathan Sowah sent off late on to compound a miserable night after receiving his second yellow card of the match.
The heavy loss leaves the Ghanaian outfit on four points and facing a battle to progress into the knockout stage.
With Al-Ahly of Egypt facing crunch clashes with group opponents Medeama and Young Africans, the Tanzanian club will fancy their chances of hunting down the Egyptians.
Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, meanwhile, produced a stunning last-gasp equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal in the Champions League.
Sudanese striker Pape Ndiaye had given Al-Hilal a half-time lead in Dar es Salaam after netting just before the break.
The goal put Al Hilal on course for a valuable victory as they seek to climb off the bottom of Group C.
But Sahel had other ideas as substitute Salah Barhoumi struck in the 92nd minute to dramatically steal his side a point.
The late twist means both sides edge onto four points apiece with two games remaining but the result has left Al-Hilal coach Florent Ibenge disappointed.
“We are really sad for getting only one point instead of six, playing against Etoile. We have to blame ourselves because we played so well but lost concentration at the very end of the game conceding a goal that came as a suprise,” Ibenge said at the post match press conference.
“It is not over yet as we have two more matches in February hopefully we will make amends and get the elusive win.”
Etoile coach Imed Ben Younes hailed his players for fighting to the end of the game to get the result.
“I want to thank my players for fighting to the end and that enabled us to get a point which is very important,” the Etoile coach Ben Younes said after the match.
“Hilal were very tactical today but we kept on pushing them then we capitalised when they lost concentration at the end. I am happy this draw gives us hope on the group.”
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