Both Ahli and Haras Al-Hedoud kept up their winning streaks in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League competitions last week, Abeer Anwar reports In a wholly Egyptian contender match, Ahli and Ismaili face each other at the Cairo International Stadium in their Orange CAF Champions League Group B game where the former won 2-1 to come second in the group, standing with 4 points topped by Algeria's JS Kabylie with six points. Nigeria's Heartland FC has one point while Ismaili ranked at the bottom with zero points, making its continuance in the competition unlikely. The match was a good one where both teams were on guard and defended well more than attacked to end the first half with no goals. It was not until the 58th minute that junior Mohamed Talaat was able to open a hole through the Ismailian defence and score Ahli's first goal that was quickly followed by Ismaili's Mohamed Mohsen Abu Greisha who scored the equaliser in the 80th minute. All were sure that the match would end in a draw until the match turned into a melee when Malian referee, Coulibaly, counted a true goal for Ahli's Wael Gomaa in extra time. Ismaili fans, coaches and players were furious to the extent that the referee kicked Ismaili's coach Ahmed El-Agouz, the match ending 2-1 in Ahli's favour while Ismaili players and fans wanted to beat the referee, the latter leaving surrounded by security. Fights followed the match. For the third consecutive year, Haras Al-Hedoud reached the group stage of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup after overcoming Gaborone United 8-1. It was a one-sided match where it seemed that Haras Al-Hedoud were playing against themselves, scoring one of the most comprehensive routs that could be scored in a match. What was strange was that Haras Al-Hedoud snatched this number of goals while playing abroad, not among its fans when in Egypt the score was 2-2. The win was the highest score to have been recorded since the creation of the competition in 2004. The Egyptian goal feast started in the 4th minute when Mohamed Hamed fired his first shot to score. Striker Ahmed Abdul-Ghani scored the second seven minutes later, and Mohamed Hamed added a third just before 15 minutes. Ahmed Abdul-Ghani continued the goal streak in the 29th minute and Ahmed Mekki scored two quick goals in the 31st and 39th minutes to make the score 6-0 at half time. At the beginning of the second half, Gabone United's Stephen Maposa was able to score his team's only goal at the 46th minute mark, but Haras Al-Hedoud restored their goal run via Mohamed Halim soon after. Mahdi Sobhi closed the game with the eighth goal just 16 minutes before the end of the second half to leave his team celebrating their fantastic victory until the early morning hours of the next day. According to cafonline, TP Mazembe slipped to a 2-2 draw in their Group A Orange CAF Champions League clash in Lubumbashi on Sunday. The result halts the 100 per cent record of the reigning African champions in the premier club competition. Mazembe went up on the quarter-hour mark through Bedi Mbenza, who intercepted a back pass from Farouk Belkaid to goalie Faouzi Chaouchi. Six minutes to recess, Hemani Nabil drew parity for the visitors while the visitors shot into the lead five minutes into the final half. Seven minutes later, Mazembe were awarded a penalty after Algerian defender Abdelmoumen Djabou handled the ball in the area. The penalty kick by captain Tresor Mputu Mabi then buried the ball in the net. Esperance lead the pack in Group A on six points, with Mazembe trailing on four points with Entente Setif and Dynamos in that order. Tunisian giants Esperance made it two wins in Group A of the Orange CAF Champions League with a lone goal victory over Dynamos of Zimbabwe on Saturday. Midfielder Osama Darragi scored the only goal of the match, held at the November 7 Stadium in Rades, six minutes from time. The victory makes Esperance, winners of the competition in 1994, the only club with a 100 per cent record in the group. The Tunisians managed a similar margin result over Algeria's Entente Setif in their group phase opener in Setif a fortnight ago. The "Blood and Gold" lead the pack on six points, holders TP Mazembe follow on four points, while Entente Setif have just a point with Dyanmos at the bottom with zero. Former African champions Enyimba of Nigeria bid farewell to continental competition this season despite beating Zanaco of Zambia 2-0 in their Orange CAF Confederation Cup clash. The "People's Elephants" needed to score at least five goals to confirm their place in the mini-league stage of the competition. But the recently decorated Nigerian champions trailed 2-4 on aggregate as Zanaco zoomed into the mini-league stage. Ekene Emigo broke the deadlock on 15 minutes before Daddy Bazuaye scored the second goal on 51 minutes. The Aba-based club fought on to increase the tally, but the Zambians' defence thwarted their efforts at goal. Heartland is the only Nigerian club remaining in a continental club championship. Former winner CS Sfaxien zoomed into the mini-league stage of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup after a 3-1 win over Petro Atletico of Angola on Sunday. Sfaxien, advanced 3-1 on aggregate after holding their Angolan visitors to a barren draw in Luanda during the first leg two weeks ago. Midfielder Kamel Zaiem scored the opener on 28 minutes before striker Hamza Younes doubled the lead a minute later. Three minutes from recess, Haykel Guemamdia pushed Sfaxien to three goals up before the Angolans grabbed a consolation goal in the closing stages of the game. CR Belouizdad ended their quest for a continental title in disappointing fashion Saturday night after defeat by Djoliba of Bamako. The Algerian side held the advantage ahead of the return leg following their virgin tie in Bamako. Their hopes were further strengthened after Islam Slimani put them ahead in the second minute of the second half following good footwork from Boukria. But CR Belouizdad went to sleep as Djoliba capitalised on their errors and Yahia Coulibaly scored to draw level. With the 1-1 draw Djoliba AC thus booked their place for the knockout stage of the Confederation Cup. Argentine coach Angel Gamondi blamed lack of preparation for his sides defeat. "We paid the price for our poor preparation against a well determined opponent," he said. "I am disappointed," added the Argentine, "but I have hopes because I have a team that has what it takes to challenge for titles. We shall continue working". On the other hand, Ibrahima Traoré was proud of his players: "Our qualification is a historic feat. It is the first time that Djoliba is attaining this height of such a competition. We will continue working hard to bring more victories." Primeiro de Agosto of Angola have failed to qualify to the Orange CAF Confederations Cup mini-league phase despite beating visitors Ittihad of Libya 2-1 in Luanda in their quarterfinal return leg match. Agosto, who were hoping to make their second successive appearance in the Confederations Cup mini league stage that kicks off next week, bow out 3-2 on aggregate. This is after losing 2-0 in the first leg played in Tripoli a fortnight ago. Meanwhile, in the return leg match played at Estàdio da Cidadela in the Angolan capital, Agosto took the lead through their Malawian international defender James Sangala. Agosto later benefitted from an own goal converted by Ittihad defender Hesham Shaban. Ittihad scored their lone goal of the match through Niger international striker Kamilou Daouda.
