The much awaited Total CAF Champions League group-stage finally started on Friday and Saturday across Africa and as always, it threw up a plethora of interesting results within the groups in exciting match-ups.
While most of the top teams would generally like to avoid tougher clashes in this phase, the rise of new footballing powers like the new kids on the block Township Rollers led to difficult groups.
Group A
The usual suspects Like Al Ahly,TP Mazembe,USM Alger are all in the 2018 CAF Champions League group phase , while a few new like Township Rollers,Diffa El Jadida from Morocco were making their first ever appearance.
Group A saw mixed results with regulars Egyptian club Al Ahly settling for a 0-0 draw against another regular side in the competition Esperance of Tunisia is a ding dong battle played in Alexandria,Egypt.
Township Rollers of Botswana defied the underdog tag in Group A getting all the three important points as they brought down KCCA from Uganda in a game that saw them announce their arrival and take over the leadership of the group ahead of giants.
Group B
In Group B five times champions TP Mazembe stunned ES Setif 4-1 in their 2018 group phase opener at Stade du Mazembe in Lumbubashi, on Saturday.
A brace from Ben Ngita and a goal from Elia Meschack added to another strike from Nathan Sinkala, handed the Ravens a record win over Setif, who scored a consolation goal through Chemseddine Nessakh.
In the other group game 10 man MC Alger came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw against debutants Diffa El Jadida of Morocco to go second and third in the group as Setif settled at the bottom of the table.
Group C
Guinee side Horoya AC took lead of group C when they snatched a 2-1 win over hosts AS Togo Port in their CAF Champions League Group C match at Stade Muncipal de Lome on Saturday.
The Dockers failed to capitalize on their early chances, lacking composure in front of the goal.They paid heavily in the 10th minute when Horoya’s midfielder Douda Camara slotted in from close range before the half time break however Bourahana Issifou calmed down the home fans with an equaliser.
Aboubacar Camara broke the hearts of the home fans with a clinical 90th minute goal to give Horoya the deserved win and lead in the group.
In the other group match played in Pretoria Wydad Casablanca who had tough moment travelling for the game that forced them to sleep over in Gabon after their chartered flight failed to get clearance from the South African aviation department secured a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns to settle for second and third in the group as AS Togo settled at he bottom.
Group D
The group produced draws with Etoile of Tunisia taking the lead. Desportivo de Agosto of Angola were made to settle for a point in a CAF Champions League Group D match against Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia on Saturday.
Ammer Jamal struck in second half to cancel out Lompala Bokamba’s opener in a match played at a near full capacity Estadio 11 de Novembro Stadium in Luanda,Angola.
In the other game hosts Zesco of Zambia settled for a 1-1 draw against visitors Mbabane Swallows from Swaziland a result that many had not predicated considering Swallows had been tagged as “minnows” by many pundits.
Zesco’s Kenyan import David Owino “Calabar” broke the deadlock with a close header Zesco connecting a beautiful John Ching’andu well delivered corner.
Thabo Koki’s men found the equalizer on the 80th minute when substitute Mangaliso Mangaliso Shongwe who came in the 65th minute replacing Daniel Atakorah headed home the equalizer with 10 minutes to go from a Tony Tsabeze cross as they setted for a 1-1 draw.
CAF Total #CAFCL Results
Zesco 1-1 Mbabane Swallows
TP Mazembe 4-1 E.S Setif
AS Togo Port 1-2 Horoya Club
Desportivo Agosto 1-1 Etoile Du Sahel
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Wydad Casablanca
Township Rollers 1-0 KCCA
Al Ahly 0-0 Esperance
Mouloudia D’Alger 1-1Difaa El Jadida
