The expanded groups phase of the 2017 Confederation of African Football Champions League kicked-off on Friday with tantalizing fixtures on the menu.
Unlike in the past, more fixtures were beamed live across the continent – serving fans a beautiful night of high octane football.
Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia emerged the biggest winners of the night – annihilating Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique 5-0 at Stade Olympique de Sousse to go top of group A.
Diogo Acosta put the coach Hubert Velud’s side in the lead a quarter an hour into the game with Alkhali Bangoura doubling the lead in the 37th minute.
More goals came in the second half with Hamza Lahmar and Hameur Bouazza adding their names on the score sheet in the 58th and 60th minutes respectively.
Acosta grabbed a brace in the 70th minute to seal the massive win.
In the other group tie in Omndurman, Sudan arch rivals Al Hilal and Al Merrikh shared the spoils in a heated 1-1 draw.
Azeez Shobowale grabbed the opener for the home side a minute past the half hour mark – a lead which lasted half an hour, before Elsamani Elsawi leveled the scores.
Zamalek of Egypt hit two past inexperienced CAPS United of Zimbabwe at Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria to assume joint leadership of group B.
Second half goals from Basem Morsy in the 56th minute and substitute Stanley Ohuwahuchi in the 83rd minute sealed the win.
USM Alger overpowered Al Ahli Tripoli 3-0 at Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers to ascend to the top of group B on goal difference.
Farouk Chafai broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with Carolus Andriamahitsinoro making it 2-0 on the stroke of half time. Oussama Darfalou sealed the rout in the 83rd minute with the third.
Esperance de Tunis thrashed DR Congo’s AS Vita Club 3-1 at Stade Olympique de Rades, Rades to temporary assume leadership of group C.
Cameroonian Yazid Atouba Emane gave the visitors a dream start with a 9th minute opener but Coulibaly leveled in the 20th minute.
Taha Yassine Khenissi converted a penalty seven minutes later to hand the home side the lead.
French-born winger Anice Badri hit the last nail on the coffin with third three minutes to stoppage time to make it 3-1 at full time.
In the other match of the group, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will host St. George of Ethiopia on Saturday in Pretoria.
Wydad Casablanca beat Coton Sport of Cameroon 2-0 in group D at Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca.
Prolific Liberian forward William Jebor drew the first blood in the 39th before Amine Atouchi stretched the lead in the 63rd minute.
Egyptian giants and record winners Al Ahly will later on today face Zambian side Zanaco in the other group fixture.
FRIDAY RESULTS:
Etoile du Sahel 5-0 Ferroviario Beira
USM Alger 3-0 Al Ahli Tripoli
Esperance du Tunis 3-1 AS Vita Club
Wydad Casablanca 2-0 Coton Sport
Al Hilal 1- 1 Al Merrikh
Zamalek 2-0 CAPS United
