Four Egyptian teams were involved in the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Abeer Anwar reports Ahli launched their quest for a record third consecutive African Champions League title against Highlanders of Zimbabwe with an away 0-0 draw. The absence of pivotal figures of their last two successes -- injured midfielders Mohamed Barakat and African Club Player of the Year Mohamed Abou-Treika, showed in Ahli's lacklustre performance at the 30,000-seat Barbourfields Stadium. In the same tournament, also in round 32 in the first leg, Zamalek was surprisingly upended by Sudan's Hilal 2-0 in Omdurman. It was the first loss experienced by coach Henri Michelle, who took over Zamalek at the start of the year. Tamer Abdel-Wahab inadvertently helped Hilal's cause when his attempt to clear landed in the opposite direction, in his own goal. In the Confederation Cup, in the first leg of round 32, the Egyptian oil club Enppi draw goalless with Algeria's ASO Chlef in Algeria. "I am satisfied with the result," former Werder Bremen defender Hani Ramzi, Enppi's coach, said. "We did our best to win but we were able to keep our net clean. It was one of our aims to win in Africa after exiting from the Arab Champions League." In the same tournament, Ismaili drew away 2-2 against Madagascar's Ajesaia. Ajesaia opened the scoring in the 25th minute but Ismaili took the lead thanks to two headers by Mohamed Hommos and Mohamed Abu Greisha. In the second half, Ajesaia drew level with the help of a deflection. Ismaili goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi saved a penalty shot one minute before the end. In other scores, Mozambique Desportivo Maputo came from a goal down to draw 1- 1 with South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns. There was another draw in Madagascar as Adema drew 2-2 with the DR Congo's TP Mazembe. Tanzania's Young Africans scored a 3-0 win over the visiting Petro Atletico of Angola. St George of Ethiopia edged past Congo's Etoile 1-0 thanks to a 62nd minute goal from Tinner. Rwanda's APR beat Maranatha Fiokpo of Togo 2-0 in Kigali with second-half goals from Rassou Abbas and Joseph Bwalya. Nigeria's Nasarawa United thrashed visitors Ports Authority of Gambia 3-0. Asec Mimosas of the Ivory Coast began their quest with a 1-0 win over Sierra Leone's FC Kallon. Sewe Sport beat the visiting Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon 1-0. Miezan Koffi Aka scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute. Esperance of Tunisia beat visiting Zanaco of Zambia 2-0. Ethiopia's Defence beat Atraco 1-0 while Sierra Leone's Ports Authority defeated Gafsa 3-2.
