Young Africans of Tanzania, a club who could go even further than last season when they fell to Sundowns in the quarterfinals, won 1-0 away to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Zimbabwean Prince Dube scored on 45 minutes for Yanga, whose Argentine coach Miguel Gamondi had expressed concern about tiredness with many players on Africa Cup of Nations duty this week.
Al Merrikh, forced to host Moroccan visitors FAR Rabat in South Sudan because of the civil war in Sudan, surrendered a two-goal lead in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Samani el Sawi and Mohamed al Qabbani, with his third goal of the campaign, gave Merrikh a two-goal lead they squandered as Mohamed Hrimat and Abdelfettah Hadraf scored for FAR.
Oscar Tshikomb ended the stalemate on 66 minutes and Merceil Ngimbi scored six minutes later to give the Congolese a huge advantage before hosting the return match in Lubumbashi on Saturday.
Young Africans of Tanzania, a club who could go even further than last season when they fell to Sundowns in the quarterfinals, won 1-0 away to Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
