Egyptian duo claims CAF Confed Cup wins

CAIRO — Egyptian duo Zamalek and Modern Future claimed victories in their CAF Confederation Cup clashes, defeating Guinea’s SOAR and Al-Hilal of Libya, respectively.

At Cairo’s Al-Salam Stadium, the White Knights thrashed SOAR Coyah 4-0.

The Guinean side was unfortunately no match for the North African giants who comfortably cruised past them with goals by winger Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’, the ever-green Mahmoud Abdel-Razek ‘Shikabala’, Tunisian forward Seifeddine Jaziri as well as a late strike by Senegalese striker Ibrahima Ndiaye.

The away victory gives Zamalek their second win of Group B and results in them occupying the summit of Group B, cafonline reported.

In Group A, Future held on to a 2-1 lead in an away clash to Al-Hilal Benghazi to move level on points with USM Alger at the top of the group.

The dramatic match, at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, which produced a red card to Ali el-Fil in the 70^th minute, had all the ingredients of a classic African club football encounter.

Al-Hilal grabbed the lead as early as the 3^rd minute from Jaefar Adrees which took them to the break with the heads held up.

However, the Egyptians came back stronger and found the equalizer in the 65^th minute through striker Marwan Mohsen, and with the game destined for a stalemate, Gambian forward Kajally Drammeh found the all-important winner for the Egyptians to give them the 2-1 win that see them remain unbeaten.

After another highly entertaining round of CAF Confederation Cup action, the race towards a place in the knockout stages continues next week with more drama and unexpected twists expected to take place.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Sekhukhune United secured their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup group stage win.

The South Africans were up against Diables Noirs of Congo in Polokwane where they emerged 2-1 victors.

The result was a great comeback from last weekend’s 2-0 defeat against former champions, RS Berkane in Morocco.

First half goals by Kamohelo Sithole as well as veteran defender, Daniel Cardoso were enough to secure the confidence boosting win for the tournament debutants.

Alves Ngakosso-Oko also found a goal for the visitors, but it was not enough as the South Africans marched to victory that sees them move from the bottom of the group to join Stade Malien on equal points behind RS Berkane.

Elsewhere, Tunisia’s Club Africain extended their Group C lead with an emphatic 3-1 away win over Angola’s Academica do Lobito.

The Tunisians have now collected maximum points in their two opening group stage matches after last week’s home win over Dreams FC of Ghana.

A brace by Bassem Srarfi in the 46^th and 75^th minute accompanied by Hamdi Labidi’s strike in the 53^rdminute were enough to see off the Angolans who had their consolation goal scored by Samuel Cachimbombo at the hour mark.

In Mali, Stade Malien played host to 2021/22 champions, RS Berkane of Morocco who also continued their fine form in the group stages with a hard fought 2-1 away win.

Paul Bassene’s brace in the 30^th and 37^th minute against a solitary strike in the 71^st minute by Mamadou Traore ensured the Moroccans go home with the important victory and remain unbeaten in Group D.

The much-anticipated West African duel between Ghana’s Dreams FC and Rivers United of Nigeria lived up to the hype as the two sides produced a highly entertaining West African encounter.

Following their crushing 2-0 away defeat to Club Africain last weekend, Dreams were under pressure to get a result that would keep their campaign alive as they welcomed a high in confidence United who cruised past Academica do Lobito 3-0 in the opening group C matches.

It was however the hosts who had the better game plan as a goal by John Antwi in the 35^th minute along with Abdul Issah’s strike in the 74^th minute were enough to see off the Nigerians who found a consolation goal in the dying moments courtesy of Alex Oyowah.