Egyptian side Pyramids FC became the first team to qualify for the knockout stage of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in their Group A match on Sunday.
Walid El Karti scored for Pyramids FC, runners-up in 2020, on the stroke of halftime before Firas Chaouat leveled for the three-time winners nine minutes into the second half.
The other group game saw Muetaz Husayn net an injury-time winner as Al Ahly Tripoli edged Zanaco 3-2 in Lusaka.
The results left Pyramids, who remain unbeaten so far, top of the table with 10 points, followed by Al Ahly Tripoli with nine points then CS Sfaxien with four points. Zanaco, who are bottom, are yet to pick up a point after four matches.
In Group B, South African giants and 2015 runners-up Orlando Pirates rose to the top of the table after a 3-0 win against Royal Leopards of Eswatini courtesy of second half goals from Fortune Makaringe, Kabelo Dlamini and Terrence Dzvukamanja.
Oussama Bellatreche scored the only goal of the game as Algeria’s Saoura defeat Al-Ittihad of Libya 1-0 in Bechar.
Pirates leads the way with nine points followed by Saoura and Al-Ittihad on seven points while Royal Leopards, like Zanaco, are bottom and pointless.
In Group C, Egyptian side Al Masry beat Congo’s Otoho d’Oyo 1-0 while DR Congo’s TP Mazembe twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw away to Cotonsport of Cameroon.
The group remains wide open as Al Masry and TP Mazembe lead the way with seven points followed by Otoho d’Oyo and Cotonsport with four and three points, respectively.
Tanzanian champions Simba edged 2020 winners RS Berkane of Morocco 1-0 in Group D while a Kamir Konate brace earned ASEC Mimosas a 2-1 win against US Gendarmerie.
The group remains finely poised as Simba heads the table with seven points followed by ASEC Mimosas and RS Berkane with six points and US Gendarmerie a further two points back.
(Story compiled with assistance from wire reports)
