At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Emmanuel Omodiagbe's own goal at 73 minutes allowed TP Mazembe to claim a 1-0 home win over Heartland FC in game two of the CAF Champions League final, enabling the Congolese club, thanks to the away goals rule, to win Africa's continental club championsip for the third time and earn a place in the next month's FIFA Club World Cup, to be played in the United Arab Emirates.
At Owerri, Nigeria:
Uche Agbe doubled (28', 90') as Heartland FC took the opening match of the CAF Champions League final 2-1 at home Sunday over TP Mazembe. The Congolese club, though, did get what could still turn out to be a crucial away goal at 23 minutes from Mbutu Mapi.
The two-match final will conclude this coming Saturday at Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo:
Despite losing game two of their semifinal round series with Al-Hilal 2-0 on Sunday (with Edward Sadomba scoring both goals at 27 and 36 minutes), TP Mazembe still won their two-match set on aggregate 5-4. The Congolese club will take on Nigeria's Heartland FC in the two-match CAF Champions League final for the African club championship and a place in December's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The final will begin in Owerri, Nigeria in two weeks with the return match at Lubumbashi the following weekend.
At Kano, Nigeria:
Heartland FC completed their two-match smothering of fellow Nigerian club Kano Pillars on Saturday with a 1-0 road win in game two and a 5-0 aggregate win for their two-game series. Uche Agba scored the only goal of game two in the final minute. Heartland advanced to the final of the CAF Champions League and will host the opening match against the winner of the Al-Hilal-TP Mazembe series (TP Mazembe lead the series 5-2 on aggregegate) in three weeks.
The semifinal round of the CAF Champions League got underway with two games on Sunday.
At Owerri:
In the opening contest of a two-set series involving two Nigerian clubs, Heartland FC proved heartless as they bashed visiting Kano Pillars FC 4-0.
At Odrurman, Sudan:
Doubles from Basisila Lusadisu (06', 89') and Kabangu Mulota (13', 72') paced TP Mazembe to a 5-2 road win over Al-Hilal in game one of their two-match semifinal series.
Two games were played on Sunday in Group B as group stage play in the CAF Champions League drew to a close.
At Harare, Zimbabwe:
Despite being eliminated from the tournament, Monomotapa United FC knocked off visiting Heartland FC 2-1.
At Lubumbashi, DRC:
TShizeu Kadyinda scored the only goal of the match as TP Mazembe eliminated visiting Etoile du Sahel from the tournament with a 1-0 victory, and---with Heartland losing on the road---claimed top spot in Group B.
FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. TP Mazembe (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 12)
2. Heartland FC (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 7)
4. Monomotapa United FC (GP: 6; GD: -9; PTS: 6)
TP Mazembe and Heartland FC advanced to the semifinal round.
The semifinal round will take place beginning on the weekend of October 2-4 with Heartland hosting Kano Pillars in the opening match of a two-game set between two Nigerian clubs. The return match will take place two weeks later with Kano Pillars as the home club.
The other semifinal series will also get started sometime between Octorber 2 and 4 with Al-Hilal hosting TP Mazembe in Sudan with the return match two weeks later in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Action in Group A play in the CAF Champions League concluded Saturday.
At Lusaka, Zambia:
ZESCO United, already eliminated from the tournament, knocked off semifinal-round-bound Al-Hilal 2-0 to deny the visiting Sudanese club first place in Group A. Enock Sakala (74') and Nicholas Zulu (79') provided the scoring for the hosts.
At Khartoum, Sudan:
By gaining a 1-1 road draw with Al-Merreikh, Kano Pillars FC clinched first place in Group A.
FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Kano Pillars FC (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 11)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
3. ZESCO United FC (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. Al-Merreikh (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 3)
Kano Pillars and Al-Hilal advanced to the semifinal round.
Matchday #5 in the CAF Champions League's group stage concluded Sunday with one game in Group A.
At Kano, Nigeria:
Victor Namo (3', 55') and Bello Musa Kofarmata (86') provided the goals that carried Kano Pillars FC to a 3-2 home win over ZESCO United FC to lock up a berth in the semifinal round. The loss eliminated the Zambian club from tournament contention and clinched a semifinal berth as well for Al-Hilal.
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Al-Hilal* (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2. Kano Pillars FC* (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
3. ZESCO United FC# (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 5)
4. Al-Merreikh# (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 2)
*Advanced to the semifinal round
#Eliminated
CAF Champions League group stage action continued play on Saturday with two games in Group B.
At Owerri, Nigeria:
Philip Obhafuoso (37') and Uche Agba (40') provided the goalpower that lifted Heartland FC to a 2-0 home win over TP Mazembe, enabling the Naze Millionaires to lock up a berth in the semifinal round of the CAF Champions League. The defeated Congolese club can still lock up a final four berth with a draw next weekend at home against Etoile du Sahel.
At Sousse, Tunisia:
Mosaab Sassi and Gilson Silva each scored once as Etoile du Sahel eliminated Monomotapa United from the tournament with a 2-0 home win over the Zimbabwean club. The Tunisian club can still lay claim to the only remaining available knockout-stage berth out of Group B with a win on the road next weekend over TP Mazembe.
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. Heartland FC* (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 10)
2. TP Mazembe (GP: 5; GD: +9; PTS: 9)
3. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
4. Monomotapa United FC# (GP: 5; GD: -8; PTS: 3)
*Advanced to the semifinal round
#Eliminated from contention
MatchDay # 5 in group stage play in the CAF Champions League got underway on Friday.
Group A:
At Omdurman, Sudan:
Al-Hilal all but gained a berth in the semifinal round defeating archrivals Al-Merreikh 3-1 at home to eliminate their opponents from the tournament. Demba Barry (23'), Omar Bakheet (77'), and Effosa Eguakon (85') each delivered a goal for the hosts.
Matchday #4 in the CAF Champions League's group stage concluded Sunday with two games in Group A.
At Lusaka, Zambia:
Despite holding hosts ZESCO United FC to a 0-0 stalemate, Al-Merreikh are on the verge of elimination from the tournament.
At Kano, Nigeria:
Kano Pillars FC moved into a first-place tie on points as they defeated visiting Al-Hilal 2-1, thanks to goals from Gambo Mohammed (45'+) and Moses Ogaga (73').
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Al-Hilal (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. Kano Pillars FC (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
3. ZESCO United FC (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
4. Al-Merreikh (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 2)
Group stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed with two games in Group B on Saturday.
At Harare, Zimbabwe:
Dioko Kaliyutuka (8') and Given Singuluma (90') provided the goalpower that lifted TP Mazembe to a 2-0 road win over Monomotapa United FC.
At Sousse, Tunisia:
Heartland held hosts Etoile du Sahel to a 0-0 stalemate.
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. TP Mazembe (GP: 4; GD: +8; PTS: 9)
2. Heatland FC (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
4. Monomotapa United FC (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 3)
Group stage play in the CAF Champions League reached the midway point on Sunday.
Group B:
At Owerri, Nigeria:
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (30'), Joshua Obaje (42'), and Okey Nwabike (77') each contributed a goal as Heartland FC overpowered visiting Etoile Sportive du Sahel 3-0.
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. TP Mazembe (GP; 3; GD: +6; PTS: 6)
2. Heartland FC (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
3. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 3)
4. Monomotapa United FC (GP: 3; GD: -6; PTS: 3)
Group stage play in the CAF Champions League continued on Saturday.
Group A:
At Omdurman, Sudan:
ZESCO United, thanks to Jonas Sakuwaha's hat trick (5', 15', PK-34'), knocked off Al-Merreikh 3-2 on the road.
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Al-Hilal (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. Kano Pillars FC (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. ZESCO United FC (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Al-Merreikh (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)
Group B:
At Lubumbashi, DRC:
Dioko Kaliyutuka's hat trick (45', 71', 79') helped TP Mazembe pistolwhip visiting Monomotapa United FC 5-0.
One game was played in Group A in the CAF Champions League on Friday. At Omdurman, Sudan: Goals from Muhannad Eltahir (PK-55') and Hamouda Ahmed Elbasheer (68') lifted Al-Hilal to a 2-0 home win over Kano Pillars and all but locked up a semifinal round berth for the Sudanese club.
At Owerri, Nigeria:
In Sunday's lone CAF Champions League contest, Ike Thankgod (3'), Uche Agba (26'), and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (46') each tallied once as Heartland FC tripled visiting Monomotapa United FC 3-1 in a Group B contest.
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. TP Mazembe (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Heartland FC (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Monomotapa United FC (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
Group stage action in the CAF Champions League continued on Saturday.
Group A:
At Kano, Nigeria:
Goals from Victor Namo (18', 33') and Moses Ogaga (89') pace Kano Pillars FC to a 3-1 home win over Al-Merreikh.
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Kano Pillars FC (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. ZESCO United FC (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Al-Merreikh (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)
Group B:
At Sousse, Tunisia:
Etliole du Sahel claimed a 2-1 home decision over TP Mazembe. Ammar Jemal (PK-35') and Aymen Abdennour (63') provided the scoring for the hosts.
Group stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed on Friday with one game in Group A.
At Khartoum, Sudan:
Usama Altawon's goal at 9 minutes held up as Al-Hilal blanked visiting ZESCO United FC 1-0.
Group B play in the CAF Champions League commenced on Sunday with two games.
At Harare, Zimbabwe:
Daniel Kamungenga (2') and Darryl Nyanadro (65') each tallied once as Monomotapa United FC held off visiting Etoile de Sahel 2-1.
At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo"
Tresor Mputo (47') and Dioko Kaliyutuka (78') provided the goalpower as TP Mazembe blanked visiting Heartland FC 2-0.
GROUP B STANDINGS:
1. TP Mazembe (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Monomotapa United FC (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Etoile de Sahel (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Heartland FC (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)
Group A play in the CAF Champions League commenced on Saturday.
At Omdurman, Sudan:
Al-Merreikh and guests Al-Hilal battled to a 0-0 stalemate in a local Omdurman derby.
At Nodola, Zambia:
ZESCO United and visiting Kano Pillars FC battled to a 1-1 deadlock. The hosts' Rodgers Kamwandi and the visiting Nigerian club's Hillary Chukwu each scored for his respective team in the 44th minute.
GROUP A STANDINGS:
1. Al-Merreikh (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Kano Pillars (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. ZESCO United (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
