There were no major surprises over the weekend as the first leg matches of the 1/16th stage of the CAF-MTN Champions League took off, with the big guns recording convincing wins In Cairo, defending champions Ahli made clear their intentions for a seventh title with a 3-0 drubbing of Tanzania's Young Africans in their clash at the Cairo International Stadium, which surprisingly saw a low spectator turn-out. Midfielder Mohamed Barakat scored the fastest goal of the prestigious competition so far after 46 seconds before completing his brace with a 53rd minute strike after Flavio Amado had tapped in a rebound on the 21st minute. Barakat's goal is his 12th in the history of the African Championship with Ahli since he joined the team. The top goal scorer for Ahli remains Mahmoud El-Khatib with 37 goals. However, the quality and production which the Tanzanian side showed by the end of the match proved that Ahli will not face an easy prey in the second- leg match. The visitors had launched a series of attacks in the last 15 minutes which were saved luckily either by the post or by Ahli's new goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh. Young Africans were so optimistic before the Ahli game as all their statements appeared that they were coming to Cairo to end Ahli's winning streak and legend as well. Their confidence came from their 14-0 win on aggregate over L'etoile D'or of Commoros Islands in the first round. The only shocking result was recorded at Tizi Ouzou, where Algerian giants J.S. Kabylie lost 2-1 to Libyan side Ahli Tripoli and in Tunis, where Mali's Djoliba beat local giants Club Africain by a similar margin. At Tizi Ouzou, the visitors took a commanding two-goal lead with strikes from Ahmed Saad on the hour mark and Oussama Fezane, 14 minutes later before Iddrisa Coulibaly reduced the deficit five minutes on. In the Sudanese city of Omdurman, Al-Hilal beat Reunion side USS Tamponnaise 3-1 courtesy of a brace from Mohamed Taher and Ahmed Adil with Eric Faro grabbing a consolation for the islanders. Last year's losing finalist, Coton Sport overcame Gabonese side Mangasport 2-1 with a last-gasp winner from Marcellin Ngaha. Mangasport who gave their hosts a good account of themselves took the lead five minutes past the hour mark through Mabide Kiney before Maikano drew parity 11 minutes later. Two-time champions Asante Kotoko handed Moroccan debutants Ittihad Khemmiset a baptism of fire with a 3-1 win in the Western Ghanaian city of Sekondi. Midfielder Jordan Opoku put the "Porcupine Warriors" in the lead after eight minutes before Hecham El Fathi neutralised for the Moroccan debutants on the half-hour mark. An improved second half performance by the hosts, who were playing away from home due to a continental ban saw them rake in two goals through diminutive midfielder Stephen Oduro on 49 minutes and Alex Asamoah two minutes from time. Kotoko trainer Isaac Opeele was the least happy with his team's performance despite the result. "This is the worst performance from my team. We had several chances and should have made the best of them. "We hope to work on our attack for the second leg and I'm sure we will scale through." For his counterpart, Mohamed Boubadi, he was pleased with his team's play in the wake of the loss. "It was a tough game for my team. We played our game and the experience is great. A 2-0 win in the second leg will oust Kotoko and we will work on that." In the Confederations Cup, Zimbabwean side Caps United played out a barren draw with ENPPI of Egypt. Another Egyptian side Haras Al-Hodoud displayed an impressive output to hold APR of Rwanda to a barren draw in the Confederation Cup 1/16th first leg clash at the Amahoro Stadium Kigali. The result puts the Alexandria-based side who reached the last eight on their debut last year in a better position to advance to the next stage needing just a win. ASC Yakaar of Senegal settled for a one-all draw with JSM Bejaia of Algeria in Rufisque. Abdoul Diallo scored for the Senegalese side on the 52nd minute before Ndjeng Joseph Yannick drew parity five minutes on. Africa Sport was held to a barren draw by Zambia's Zesco United in Cote d'Ivoire. Tunisian giants, Etoile du Sahel came from behind to beat Algerian side, ASO Chlef 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse on Saturday. Second half strikes from Mehdi Ben Dhifallah (49th) and Silva Alves Gilson Manuel (54th) neutralized Paul Biyaga's 14th minute opener for the visitors. The result puts the Sousse-based side in pole position to advance in a competition they are aiming to go far after a disappointing outing last season, where they were bundled out by Zimbabwean side, Dynamos FC at the 1/8th stage. At the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, champions ASEC Mimosas restored smiles on the faces of football fans in the wake of the nation's disastrous performance in the maiden African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 2-0 win over Burkinabe champions, Etoile Filante. Midfielder Pacôme Kouadio Kouassi broke the deadlock on seven minutes before Patrick Kouakou N'Doua doubled the lead 60 seconds into the second half. Elsewhere, former African champions, Canon Yaounde announced their return to the big stage with a lone goal victory over Angola's Primeiro de Agosto in Luanda. Striker Joseph Amboem's 62nd minute effort proved decisive for the three-time winners, who have yet to pass the 1/8th since the new format was introduced over a decade ago. South African side Ajax Cape Town squeezed past Zimbabwean champions, Monomotapa FC 3-2 to claim a slim- lead in their CAF-MTN Champions League 1/16th clash at the Boland Rugby Stadium, Wellington, ahead of the second leg. Mabuthi Khenyeza gave the home side an early lead after five minutes from the spot before authenticating the lead three minutes on. Edmore Chitato, a member of the Warriors squad (Zimbabwe national team) that participated at the CHAN reduced the deficit for the visitors 18 minutes later. Brett Evans restored his side two-goal lead with a superb strike on the 59th minute before Daniel Kamungenga grabbed an image saving consolation on stoppage time. On Friday, Ugandan champions, Kampala City Council came from behind to beat South African side Supersport United 2-1 in their clash at the Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala. Liberian-import Anthony Laffor put the visitors in the lead two minutes from recess before second half strikes from Robert Ssentongo (51st) and Brian (58th) secured victory for the hosts. In Tripoli, Libyan champions Al Ittihad were held to a one all draw by Al Merrikh of Sudan. Striker Mohamed Zubya opened the scores for the homers two minutes into the second half before veteran Haitham Tambal drew parity on the 74th minute with a superb strike. Cote d'Ivoire side JC Abidjan were among the away winners during the 1/ 16th first leg matches of the Confederation Cup played over the weekend. The Treichville-based club claimed a 2-1 win over Satellite Club of Guinea in Conakry to join South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and Union Douala of Cameroon as only sides to have won away. The Ivorian minnows came from behind to stun the Guinean side, a semi- veteran on the continental stage. Baska Condé broke the deadlock on the 38th minute before second half strikes from Hevra Kouassi and Liofra Yéo ensured a victory for the Ivorian side. In Curepipe, a brace from Katlego Mphela and the other from Surprise Moriri ensured a 3-0 win for former South African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns at the expense of Mauritian side, Vacoas Phoenix. At Fes, Moroccan side MAS came from behind to hold El Gouafel Gafsa of Tunisia one all. Saber Mhamedi put the Tunisians in the lead on 35th minute before Mostapha Mrani grabbed the much-needed equalizer six minutes from time. Angolan side, Santos pipped Gabonese side USM in Libreville courtesy Manucho Barros' 43rd minute goal. Bayelsa of Nigeria held 57Tourbillon of Congo to a 0-0 draw to remain on course for a place at the next stage. Holders CS Sfaxien began their defense of the Confederation Cup title on a high note with a 4-1 victory over Libya's Ahli Benghazi on Saturday at the Taieb Mhiri Stadium in Sfax. The result made the defending champions the biggest winners of the weekend clashes. A brace from Hamza Younes, one in each half and second half strikes from Hamdi Rouid (50th) and Issam Merdassi (81st) gave the Sfax-based side a commanding four goal lead before Ahmed Mosli grabbed a consolation for the Benghazi-based side during stoppage time. Elsewhere, former Africa champions, Union Douala beat Tourbillon of Chad 2-1 in N'djamena. In Lusaka, Red Arrows humbled Nigeria's Ocean Boys 2-0 courtesy first half strikes from Timothy Mbewe (13th) and Richard Phiri (28th). In the Libyan city of Sirt on Friday, local side Khaleej were stunned 0-1 by Setif Entente of Algeria thanks to Abdelmalek Ziaya's 13th minute strike just as Domingos Maieco's 16th minute effort ensured Angola's Recreativo do Libolo a 1-0 win over Cote d'Ivoire's SOA in Abidjan. The second leg matches have been scheduled for April 3-5 with the winners advancing to the 1/8th stage.
