Ani penalty save keeps Enyimba in CAF Cup race

Nigerian club Enyimba stayed in the race for a CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals place after goalkeeper Henry Ani saved a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Egyptian visitors Al Masry on Sunday.

Ani dived to his right and used both hands to push away a Mahmoud Hamada spot-kick in the matchday 5 Group D clash in southeastern city Uyo.

Mohamed Hashem had given Masry an eighth-minute lead that was cancelled out by Ifeanyi Ihemekwele three minutes into the second half.

Had two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba lost they would have been eliminated from the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League.

Instead, they retained a slim chance of overtaking Masry and accompanying group winners and title-holders Zamalek of Egypt into the knockout stage.

Enyimba must beat Zamalek in Egypt next Sunday and hope Masry fail to secure maximum points at home to bottom club Black Bulls of Mozambique.

While the second qualifying place from Group D hangs in the balance, five clubs secured quarterfinals places on Sunday.

CS Constantine and USM Alger of Algeria, Simba of Tanzania, Stellenbosch of South Africa and Zamalek joined Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who qualified last weekend.

Constantine and Stellenbosch are Confederation Cup debutants and both won convincingly at home to secure places in the knockout stage.

The Algerians hammered CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 3-0 while the South Africans overcame 2009 title-holders Stade Malien of Mali 2-0 in Pretoria.

Sfaxien, who have won the Confederation Cup a record three times since its 2004 launch, will be notable absentees from the next phase.

They suffered a fifth straight Group A loss away to Constantine, whose Zakaria Benchaa struck twice to become the six-goal leading scorer in the competition this season.

The remaining two slots will be filled next Sunday by Jaraaf of Senegal or ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast from Group C and Masry, Enyimba or Bulls from Group D.

North African clubs have dominated the Confederation Cup since 2018 with Berkane, fellow Moroccans Raja Casablanca and Zamalek winning two finals each and USM Alger one.