Advertisement

African Champions League talking points

olympicgames09 December 2024 06:55| © Mzansi Football
Share

Matches in the African Champions League group phase at the weekend were again full of drama with two rounds now completed and the pool competition hitting the halfway mark this coming weekend.

WHERE WERE THE WINNERS?

Only three of the eight Champions League group clashes on matchday two ended in wins with Al Hilal solidifying their position at the top of group A with their late Sunday win over TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The young Burundi striker Jean Claude Girumugisha grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time winner. Aimen Mahious scored the only goal for Algeria’s Chabab Belouizdad as they won away at Stade Abidjan of the Ivory Coast on Saturday, making up for being beaten at home when they opened their campaign against Pirates last month. 

The North African country’s other representatives, Mouloudia Alger, were 2-0 home winners against Tanzania’s Young Africans, who have now lost both group A fixtures since the arrival of new coach Sead Ramaovic from TS Galaxy. But it took more than an hour before the goals came, first from centre-back Ayoub Abdellaoui and then substitute Soufiane Bayazid.

RAYNERS RIFLE

Mamelodi Sundowns dominated possession but did not get a first shot at goal against Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces until early in the second half of their Group B clash in El Jadida on Saturday. But they were the first to get onto the scoresheet when a long ball from defence landed perfectly for Iqraam Rayners to let it first bounce over his head and then hook in a superb right-footed half-volley finish. It was the most spectacular finish of the weekend and brought up a 10th goal for the South African international striker since he joined the Brazilians from Stellenbosch as he begins to pay back some of his expensive transfer fee.

AHLY STILL IN SEARCH OF MZANSI SUCCESS

Cairo giants Al Ahly played out a goalless draw with Orlando Pirates in Soweto in group C on Saturday, which meant their long-standing record of never having won on South African soil continued. It was their 16th game in the country, and they have now drawn nine and lost seven. They first came to South Africa in 1993 to play the African Super Cup against Cairo rivals Zamalek at Soccer City in a near-empty stadium.

The Egyptians were incredulous that no locals wanted to watch the fabled derby clash, but South Africa was only a year out of sporting isolation and the locals still insular in their knowledge and approach to African football. A sellout crowd at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday was a major improvement although it has taken a long time for South African supporters to warm to African club competition.

RAJA’S ODYSSEY

Raja Casablanca’s disappointing early season form has already seen a coaching change with former Portugal international Sa Pinto appointed in October, but he has been struggling to improve their fortunes. Raja did get a league win away at Hassania Agadir last Sunday, giving them a boost as they headed off on a two-week trip to the DR Congo and South Africa.

Sa Pinto would have been hoping for a second successive victory when they took on Maniema Union in Kinshasa in group B on Saturday but despite taking the lead through Younes Najjari, the Moroccan giants let it slip and drew 1-1. Raja now travel onto Pretoria where they meet Sundowns next Sunday in a match in which both clubs will be looking for their first success of the group competition.

Advertisement