The first round, first leg matches of both the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup were played over the weekend, with 32 teams in each competition looking to set themselves on the path for the next phase with grueling fixtures witnessing surprising results in both competitions.

In the top-tier Champions League, current title holders and five winners TP Mazembe opened the defence of their crown with a 2-2 draw away to St.George of Ethiopia in what was a ding dong battle in a feisty atmosphere at the magnificent Bahir Dar Stadium that saw over 60,000 cheering fans watch the exciting clash.

In the other end Tanzanian giants Yanga produced a virtuoso performance beating hosts APR 1-2 away from home to announce their real intentions while Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca stamped their authority in style walloping hapless CNaPS of Madagascar 5-1 at home in a one sided affair.Zambian side Zesco added fuel to an already burning fire when they crushed Guinea champions Horoya 4-1 at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.

On the other hand Egyptian giants Al Ahly drew away from home, being held to a goalless draw at Angola’s Recreativo do Libolo.while Sudanese giants Al Mereikh produced a slice of brilliance away in Nigeria to upset hosts Warri Wolves 0-1 in a topsy turvy clash while fellow countrymen Enyimba were in no mood for jokes crushing Vital O of Burundi 5-1 to put one foot forward in the second leg to be played in Bujumbura.
Other notable results saw Sudanese side Al Hilal fail to replicate the form by rivals Al Mereikh when they lost 1-0 to hosts Al Ahly .Zamalek look to be on course for the second round with a 1-0 away win at Cameroon’s Union Douala, while the likes of Stade Malien

South African sides Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs also had diverse fortunes: the Brazilians beat Congo side AC Leopards 2-0 at home, while the Amakhosi slumped to a 1-0 loss at home to ASEC Mimosas as their poor form continued in earnest.

In the Confederation Cup, ENPPI, Azam FC, CF Mounana, SC Villa, Zanaco, Esperance and Kawkab Marrakech claimed emphatic victories to put them in powerful positions to advance into the next round, while the remainder of the ties appear to be very much in the balance.

Azam plugged Bidvest Wits into trouble doing themselves an enormous favour beating them 0-3 away in in one of the best performances in the CAF Confederations Cup.SC Villa of Uganda registered a superb performance and score line hitting JKU 4-0 to seal a place in the second round.
The second leg clashes for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup will be played on the weekend of March 18-20.

CAF Champions League results, March 11-13

AS Vita 1-0 Ferroviario Maputo

Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 AC Leopards

Warri Wolves 0-1 Al Merreikh

Etoile du Congo 1-1 ES Setif

Wydad Casablanca 5-1 CNaPS Sport

Kedus Giorgis 2-2 TP Mazembe

Enyimba 5-1 Vital’O

Olympique Khourigba 1-1 Etoile du Sahel

Stade Malien 2-0 Coton Sport

Zesco United 4-1 Horoya

APR 1-2 Young Africans

Recreativo do Libolo 0-0 Al Ahly

Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 ASEC Mimosas

Al Ahli Tripoli 1-0 Al Hilal

Union Douala 0-1 Zamalek

Club Africain 1-0 MO Bejaia

CAF Confederation Cup results, March 11-13

Vita Club Mokanda 0-0 Police

Sagrada Esperanca 1-0 Desportiva de Maputo

Mouloudia d’Oran 2-0 SC Gagnoa

Kawkab Marrakech 3-0 Barrack Young Controllers

Bidvest Wits 0-3 Azam FC

Renaissance 0-2 Esperance de Tunis

Harare City 1-2 Zanaco

Stade Gabesien 2-1 AS Kaloum

Nasarawa United 1-0 CS Constantine

Misr El Makasa 3-1 CS Don Bosco

FC Saint Eloi Lupopo 2-1 Al Ahly Shendi

Al Ittihad Tripoli 1-0 Medeama

UMS de Loum 1-1 FUS Rabat

SC Villa 4-0 JKU

Atletico Olympic 0-2 CF Mounana

Africa Sports 0-2 ENPPI

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com