The weekend CAF Champions League qualifiers reached a penultimate stage with several matches played in the first leg of the qualifiers.
In the matches played on Saturday, JS Kabylie and Generation Foot were among the teams that took a giant step towards the group stages after registering favourable results.
The Algerian side, Kabylie, humiliated much-fancied Horoya AC of Guinea while Senegal’s Generation Foot surprised Egyptian giants Zamalek by beating them 2-1 in an entertaining fixture in Thies.
The 16 winners of the first round will advance to the group stage, while the 16 losers of the same round will enter into the Confederation Cup play-off round.
The teams that will drop from the Champions League will start at home in the Confederation Cup Group Stage in that first leg and end up away in the second leg.
Ducor Sports takes a roundup of the Saturday fixtures.
JS Kabilye v Horoya
Hamza Banouh scored a brace in the second half to give Algerian giants JS Kabylie a 2-0 victory over star-studded Horoya AC in a CAF Champions League last 16 first leg.
Banouh, whose skills win him favourable public and media comparisons with Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, struck his first goal seven minutes into the second half.
The in-form forward added the second goal six minutes after the hour mark to give the Canaries an advantage before the second leg fixture to be played in Conakry in a fortnight.
Despite the loss, Horoya are favoured to win the return match as they missed several chances in both halves when their forwards failed to find an away goal.
Cano Sport v Al Ahly
Record eight-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt secured a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea side Cano Sport in Malabo.
Salah Mohsen scored his first goal of the campaign from a defence-splitting pass from Magdy Afsha which he slotted in easily after missing several chances earlier on.
The Egyptian side doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Walid Soliman who headed Ahmed Fathy’s cross past Cano Sport’s goalkeeper.
The second leg of the match will be between 27-29 September in a venue yet to be decided in the Reds backyard of Cairo.
Generation Foot v Zamalek
Five-time Africa champions Zamalek were stunned 2-1 by Senegalese champions Generation Foot in Thies.
Lima Gueye gave the Senegalese an early lead after 11 minutes, before completing his brace at the 70th minute to give Generation Foot a 2-0 lead.
15 minutes before fulltime, second-half substitute Mustafa Mohamed reduced the deficit for the White Knights five minutes later.
Petro du Luanda v KCCA
Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) secured a vital 0-0 draw away against Petro de Luanda.
The draw will be a good result for the Ugandan champions, who will now need to use the home-ground advantage to secure their passage into the group stage of the competition for the second time in a row.
KCCA missed several clear-cut chances with teenage striker Allan Okello being the victim. As early as the 8th minute, he missed an open goal after fumbling with the ball with the goal post at his mercy.
That was followed up with another clear opportunity in the 35th minute when his thunderous free-kick from outside the box was parried by keeper Delgado.
Cote d’Or vs Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns took control of the second round tie after thrashing Cote d’Or 5-0 in Malabo.
The Brazilians took the lead inside five minutes as Tiyani Mabunda headed home to settle any nerves they may have had.
The visitors secured the two-goal cushion with just over 20 minutes remaining in the second half with a close-range header from Lyle Lakay.
Two minutes later Lakey turned provider with a pin-point cross for Mkhulise to score.
Mabunda grabbed his brace in the 74th minute with a powerful strike, before Arendse added a fifth with a neat finish into the bottom corner.
Yanga v Zesco
Zambia giants Zesco United came from a goal down to rescue a 1-1 draw against Tanzanian side Yanga after a late equaliser.
Yanga took the lead through a penalty from Patrick Sibomana after 25 minutes in a match that they dominated as they sought a first leg advantage.
But they were left to rue missed opportunities as Zimbabwe forward Thabani Kamusoko equalized in the 96th minute.
Though it sounds as it will be an easy second leg outing for Team Ya Ziko at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium they must be watchful of a Young Africans side that certainly has the potential to spring a surprise.
FC Platinum v UD Songo
Zimbabwe champions FC Platinum started life without coach Norman Mapeza on a positive note, beating Mozambican champions UD Songon 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.
A solitary goal by Never Tigere in the first half was enough for the two time Castle Premier League champions to claim a first leg home victory.
The return fixture will be played in Mozambique on 28 September and the winner will qualify for the group stages of the competition.
Green Eagles v Primeiro de Agosto
Zambian side Green Eagles will have to go and win second leg encounter with a difference of two goals away in Angola if they are to proceed to the next round.
Eagles succumbed to a 2-1 loss at the hands of Primeiro 1° de Agosto at Heroes Stadium.
Agosto broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after Christavao Paciencia connected with a low cross inside the 18-yard area with the Eagles’ defenders caught ball watching.
Eagles scored an equalizer in the 78th minute when Amity Shamende connected well with a Bonny Muchindu long throw-in.
Three minutes from time, the problems mounted for the hosts when Christian Ngudikama sent a shot from a close range into the net to make it 2-1.
