Sudanese giants Al Hilal stunned MC Alger 1-0 in Algiers on Saturday night to maintain their flawless start to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions’ League group stage.
The match was tightly contested, but a decisive header from Guessouma Fofana in the 76th minute secured the Sudanese side their third consecutive win.
Hilal capitalized on a set piece, with Mohamed Abdelrahman assisting Fofana’s clinical finish.
MC Alger pushed for an equalizer but were denied by the brilliance of goalkeeper Issa Fofana.
Al Hilal now sits comfortably atop Group A with nine points, while MC Alger remains second with four points, ahead of Mazembe and Young Africans (Yanga) who played out to a 1-1 draw in Kinsasha earlier on Saturday.
Despite trailing for most of the match, Yanga salvaged a crucial draw with a dramatic equalizer in the dying seconds, thanks to Prince Dube.
Mazembe had looked set to claim all three points when Cheick Fofana, who came on as a substitute in the 35th minute, broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
However, the Tanzanian side refused to give up. In the 94th minute, the ball found its way to Prince Dube, who coolly slotted the ball past Mazembe’s goalkeeper to level the score.
Esperance delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pyramids 2-0 in Radès, climbing to the top of Group D in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The Tunisians were clinical in the first half, with Youcef Belaïli opening the scoring in the 36th minute with a sublime finish.
Just before halftime, Elias Mokwana doubled the lead following a swift counterattack.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of Group C after being held to a 1-1 draw by Stade d’Abidjan in Abidjan on Saturday.
Evidence Makgopa put the visitors ahead in the 45th minute, converting a penalty after Relebohile Mofokeng was fouled in the box.
The Buccaneers looked set to claim all three points before Ousmane Méité’s 53rd-minute header leveled the score for the Ivorian side.
Elsewhere, AS FAR and Maniema Union shared the spoils in Group B after playing out to a 1-1 draw the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa.
The match took a turn in the 37th minute when Maniema Union took the lead. A well-worked corner by Agee Basiala found Exaucia Moanda at the edge of the six-yard box.
Moanda, showing great composure, dispatched a right-footed strike into the back of the net, giving the home side a deserved advantage heading into the break.
A clinical finish from To Carneiro in the 62nd minute ensured the visitors would not leave empty-handed.
The result leaves AS FAR at the top of Group B with five points from three matches, while Maniema Union remain in second place with three points.
–CAFonline.com