Surprises Rule Champions League Group Stage

The first round of group
stage matches in the CAF Champions League produced some surprise results, with 2014 winners ES Setif going down on home soil, while newcomers Smouah claimed a thrilling victory.
Group A’s first match saw four-time African champions TP Mazembe of the DR Congo held to a surprise goalless draw at home by Sudan’s Al Hilal.
The Ravens were heavily favoured to open their group stage with a victory, but the visiting Sudanese actually created the better scoring opportunities, forcing veteran Mazembe goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba to put in a fine performance in order to help his side earn a draw.
The other Group A match saw Egyptian club Smouah, who are participating at this stage of the continental tournament for the first time, claim a 3-2 win at home to Morocco’s Moghreb Tetouan.
The Egyptians found themselves 2-0 down early on, but scored three times in the space of 13 second-half minutes to claim all three points. Ivorian Hermann Kouao netted the equaliser and winner for Smouah within a couple of minutes late in the game.
Group B saw Sudan’s El Merreikh claim a 2-0 home win over Algerian club MC El Eulma, with Adel Namane scoring an own goal and Bakri Al Madina finding the back of the net, while the all-Algerian clash between Setif and USM Alger saw the latter claim a 2-1 away win.
Second half goals from striker Mohamed Seguer and midfielder Nacereddine Khoualed took USMA to victory, with Lyes Kourbia’s late strike proving nothing more than a consolation for the reigning champions.
The second round of group stage matches will be played over the weekend of 10-12 July.