CAIRO — Egyptian heavyweights Pyramids FC and Zamalek extended their unbeaten streaks in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, respectively.
In Ndola, defending champions Pyramids FC secured a second consecutive win against Zambia’s Power Dynamos in their Group A clash, reinforcing their strong start to the campaign. Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, Zamalek played out a 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs in the CAF Confederation Cup Group D fixture.
Pyramids 1-0 Dynamos
Pyramids FC maintained their flawless beginning to the CAF Champions League campaign, securing their second victory in as many matches to move joint-top of Group A with Morocco’s RS Berkane, both sitting on six points.
Power Dynamos, meanwhile, remain without a point after consecutive defeats to Berkane and Pyramids.
The decisive moment of the match in Ndola came in the 51st minute, when Mohamed Reda Bobo found the back of the net, handing the reigning champions three crucial points on the road.
This result underlines the strong start of the title holders, who are determined to defend their continental crown.
In Group D, Esperance de Tunis showed character and determination, overturning a second-half deficit to earn a vital away point against Petro de Luanda.
The Angolan side opened the scoring in the 49th minute through Tiago Reis, putting the hosts in control.
However, Esperance refused to give in, pushing forward in the closing stages until Aboubacar Diakité struck the equaliser in the 89th minute, rescuing a deserved draw for the Tunisian giants.
Chiefs 1-1 Zamalek
An added-time own goal by Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy gifted Kaizer Chiefs a 1-1 draw in a high-profile CAF Confederation Cup Group D match.
Instead of clearing a cross from Dillon Solomons, the Egyptian pushed the ball into his net to give the South Africans a 96th-minute equaliser.
Zamalek had led from the third minute when veteran Tunisian striker Seifeddine Jaziri scored his fourth goal of the African campaign.
The other Egyptian contenders, Al-Masry, tops the table with six points after two rounds. Zamalek has four, Chiefs one and ZESCO United of Zambia none.
Zamalek is aiming to win the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League a record-equalling third time. CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco have already done so.
Chiefs have reached the mini-league stage for the first time after being eliminated in pre-group play-offs three times.
The South Africans made a disappointing start on a hot afternoon in the northern city, falling behind after just 154 seconds through poor defending of a corner.
Captain and goalkeeper Brandon Petersen advanced off his line, but failed to grasp the ball and after a melee, Jaziri struck a low shot into the corner of the net.
Chiefs came agonisingly close to levelling on six minutes when an audacious long-range attempt by Uruguayan Gaston Sirino beat Sobhy only to rebound back into play off the post.
Jaziri had the ball in the net again soon after but the goal was disallowed as he had pushed Angolan Inacio Miguel before scoring.
Chiefs then lost full-back Bradley Cross and midfielder Sirino to injuries within four minutes. Paseko Mako and Mfundo Vilakazi took their places.
Early in the second half, Jaziri became the latest injury victim and Palestinian Oday Dabbagh took his place.
A free-kick just outside the box on the hour mark offered Chiefs a chance to equalise, but a poor attempt by Vilakazi was well off target.
Elsewhere, AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville rose from third to first in Group C after a surprisingly convincing 4-1 victory over Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in central Africa.
After scoring just five goals in five qualifying and group matches, the Congolese found the net three times within 29 minutes to lead 3-0 at half-time.
Defender Jacques Bowamba, Malian forward Bandiougou Diallo and midfielder Gosim Duvan scored, with another defender, Ravelli Dion, increasing the lead to four goals midway through the second half.
Belouizdad scored a consolation goal on 81 minutes as Abderrahmane Meziane converted a penalty for a club competing in the group phase for the first time.
