CAF Champions League: It's Al-Ahly Vs. Esperance ST For The Marbles

At Cairo, Egypt:

Mohamed Gedo Nagi scored the series-clinching goal in the 28th minute on Sunday as Al-Ahly defeated visiting Sunshine Stars 1-0 in game two of the their two-game CAF Champions League semifinal series, enabling the Egyptian club to take the series 4-3 on aggregate.

The match was delayed thirty minutes because the visiting Nigerian club's bus was slowed by Al-Ahly supporters.

Al-Ahly and defending champions Esperance ST of Tunisia will play in next month's two-match championship series with the winner advancing to December's FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place again in Japan.

CAF Champions League: Esperance ST Blank TP Mazembe At Home In Game Two Of Semfinal Series; Defending Champs Reach Final

At Rades, Tunisia:

Mohamed Ben Mansour scored the only goal of the match in the 70th minute on Saturday as Esperance ST defeated visiting TP Mazembe 1-0 in game two of their CAF Champions League semifinal-round series, enabling the Tunisian club to win the two-game series 1-0 on aggregate and return to the two-match championship final, which starts in two weeks.  They will face the winner of the Al-Ahly-Sunshine Stars series (currently at 3-3 on aggregate).

CAF Champions League: Scoreless Semifinal Opener In Lubumbashi

At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Sunday's opening match of the two game CAF Champions League semifinal round series between TP Mazembe and visiting defending champions Esperance ST ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

AFC Champions LeagueL 3-3 Road Draw For Al-Ahly In Semifinal Series Opener In Nigeria

At Ijebu Ode, Nigeria:

Mohamed Gedo Nagi scored twice (18', 74') and Al Sayed Hamdy once (30') as Al-Ahly gained a 3-3 draw on the road with Sunshine Stars in the opening match of their two-game series in the semifinal round of the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

CAF Champions League: Cairo Derby Ends In 1-1 Draw; Berekum Chelsea Knock Off TP Mazembe As Group-Stage Play Ends

On Sunday, two games---both in Group B---were played as group-stage play in the CAF Champions League concluded.

At Accra, Ghana:

Jordan Darko-Opoku scored the only goal of the match as Berekum Chelsea bid farewell to the Champions League with a 1-0 home win over semifinal-round-bound TP Mazembe.

At Cairo:

Mohamed Barakat's equalizer in the 62nd minute lifted Al-Ahly to a 1-1 home draw with arch-rivals Zamalek and won Group B.  Mohamed Ibrahim scored for the guests in the 43rd minute.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Al Ahly (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11)
2. TP Mazembe (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. Berekum Chelsea (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 9)
4. Zamalek (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 2)

In the semifinal round next month, Al-Ahly will take on Sunshine Stars with defending champs Esperance ST will take on 2009 and 2010 titlists TP Mazembe.

CAF Champions League: ASO Chlef Knock Off Champs At Home

At Chlef, Algeria:

In the lone Friday CAF Champions League contest, Anicet Eyenga provided all the scoring in the 26th minute as already-eliminated ASO Chlef knocked off semifinal-round-bound Esperance ST 1-0 at home as Group A action came to a close.

FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Esperance ST (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
2. Sunshine Stars (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. ASO Chlef (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 3)
4. Etoile du Sahel-disqualified

Esperance ST and Sunshine Stars advanced to the semifinal round.

CAF Champions League: Esperance ST Win Group A; Semifinal Berths For Al-Ahly and TP Mazembe

Group-stage action in the CAF Champions League, Africa's premier club competition, continued with two Sunday matches.

Group A:

At Rades, Tunisia:

Jude Ebitogwa's own goal in the 52nd minute proved to be the lone score of the match as Esperance ST defeated visiting Sunshine Stars 1-0 in a contest of two knockout-stage-bound clubs.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. y-Esperance ST (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. x-Sunshine Stars FC (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. z-ASO Chlef (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

y-Won Group A and clinched berth in semifinal round
x-Clinched berth in semifinal round
z-Eliminated from tournament

Group B:

At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:

Mbwana Samata (49') and Deo Kanda (61') provided the scoring as TP Mazembe took over first place in Group B with one game remaining following their 2-0 home win over Al-Ahly.  The win by the Congolese club eliminated Ghana's Berekum Chelsea from the tournament.  

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. x-TP Mazembe (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2. x-Al Ahly (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. z-Berekum Chelsea (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 6)
4. z-Zamalek (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in the semifinal round
z-Eliminated from tournament

CAF Champions League: 1-1 Draw Between Zamalek And Visiting Berekum Chelsea

At Cairo, Egypt:

In the lone Saturday CAF Champions League contest, Awudu Nafiu's equalizer in the 24th minute carried Berekum Chelsea to a 1-1 Group B road draw with Zamalek, already eliminated from the tournament.  Mohamed Ibrahim scored for the hosts at 13 minutes.

Special Note:

In the aftermath of the August 18 crowd disturbance late in Etoile du Sahel's home match with Esperance ST, the Confederation for African Football disqualified Etoile from the tournament and expunged all results of games involving the Tunisian club.  Esperance ST and Nigeria's Sunshine Stars have advanced from Group A into the semifinal round with Algeria's ASO Chlef eliminated.

CAF Champions League: Road Win For TP Mazembe; Zamalek Eliminated; Berekum Chelsea And Al-Ahly Draw; Esperance ST Awarded Forfeit Win And Claim Semifinal Berth

Two games, both in Group B, were played on Sunday as group-stage action in the CAF Champions League continued.

At Accra, Ghana:

Jordan Darko-Opoku's equalizer in the 52nd minute enabled Berekum Chelsea to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Al-Ahly.  Anicet Oussou Konan scored for the Egyptian club in the 43rd minute.

At Cairo, Egypt:

Mbwana Samata scored the winning goal in the 44th minute as TP Mazembe defeated Zamalek 2-1 on the road, eliminating the hosts from the tournament.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. x-Esperance ST (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
2. Sunshine Stars FC (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
3. Etoile Sahel (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
4. z-ASO Chlef (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament

NOTE:  Saturday's match at Sousse, Tunisia between Etoile Sahel and visiting Esperance ST was suspended after 71 minutes due to crowd troubles.  The visiting defending champions were subsequently awarded a 2-0 victory and, as a result, clinched a berth in the semifinal round.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ahly (GP: 4; GD: +5; PTS: 10)
2. TP Mazembe (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
3. Berekum Chelsea (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 5)
4. z-Zamalek (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

CAF Champions League: Sunshine Stars Too Bright For Now-Eliminated ASO Chlef, Even In Algeria

At Chlef, Algeria:

Akombo Ukeyima scored the winning goal on the 76th minute as Nigeria's Sunshine Stars defeated ASO Chlef 2-1 on the road in Group A action as the second half of CAF Champions League group-stage play commenced on Friday, eliminating the Algerian club from the tournament.

CAF Champions League: Home Wins For Sunshine Stars and ES Tunis

Two games, both in Group A, were played on Sunday as CAF Champions League group-stage action reached the midway point.


At Ijebu Ode, Nigeria:


Dele Olorundare (48') and Izu Azuka (59') each scored a goal in the second half as Sunshine Stars shut out visiting ASO Chlet 2-0.


At Tunis, Tunisia:


In an all-Tunisian encounter, Khaled Mouelhi's penalty kick in the 41st minute was all the scoring as Esperance Sportive de Tunis downed visiting Etoile Sportive du Sahel 1-0 to remained unbeaten and untied.


GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Esperance ST (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. Sunshine Stars (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. Etoile Sahel (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. ASO Chlef (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

CAF Champions League: Home Wins For TP Mazembe And Al-Ahly

Group-stage play in the CAF Champions League resumed on Saturday with two games, both played in Group B.


At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:


Ngandu Kasongo (70') and Mbwana Samata (77') provided the scoring as TP Mazembe blanked visiting Zamalek 2-0.


At Cairo, Egypt:


Walid Soliman scored twice in the second half (68', 72') as Al-Ahly dominated visiting Berekum Chelsea 4-1.


GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Al-Ahly (GP: 3; GD: +5; PTS: 9)
2. Berekum Chelsea (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
3. TP Mazembe (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
4. Zamalek SC (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 0) 

CAF Champions League: Late Goal Carries Ah-Ahly Past Arch-Rival; 2-2 Draw Between TP Mazembe And Berekum Chelsea

Two games, both in Group B, were played in the CAF Champions League's group stage on Sunday.


At Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo:


Emmanuel Clottey scored twice in the final twenty minutes (PK-71', 84') as Berekum Chelsea came from two goals back to gain a 2-2 road draw with TP Mazembe.  Tresor Mputo Mabi scored both goals (11', 32') for the Congolese club in the first half.


At Cairo, Egypt:


Mohamed Abo Trika's goal in the 79th minute to lift Al-Ahly to a 1-0 road win over arch-rivals Zamalek.


GROUP B STANDINGS:


1. Al-Ahly (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Berekum Chelsea (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. TP Mazembe (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Zamalek (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

CAF Champions League: Scoreless Saturday In Sousse

At Sousse, Tunisia:


Sunshine Stars from Nigeria held home-standing Etoile du Sahel to a 0-0 Group A stalemate in the lone Saturday CAF Champions League group-stage contest.


GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Esperance ST (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. Etoile du Sahel (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Sunshine Stars (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)
4. ASO Chlef (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

CAF Champions League: Late Comeback Carries Esperance ST To Home Win

At Tunis, Tunisia:


Khaled Mouelhi converted two penalty kicks (29', 87'), then Yannick N'Djeng scored the game winner in stoppage time (90'+3) as Esperance ST came back from a late 2-1 deficit and pulled out a 3-2 Group A home win over ASO Chlef in the lone Friday CAF Champions League group-stage contest.

CAF Champions League: Esperance ST, Al-Ahly Post Wins

The opening match day in the CAF Champions League's group stage concluded with two games played on Sunday.


Group A:


At Ijebu Ode, Nigeria:


Youssef Msakni (20') and Yannick N'Djeng (45') each scored a goal as Espernace ST continued their defense of their continental club title with a 2-0 road win over the Sunshine Stars.


GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Esperance ST (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Etoile du Sehel (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. ASO Chlef (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Sunshine Stars (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)


Group B:


At Cairo, Egypt:


Emad Moteeb (12') and Mohamed Nagy (90'+2) each scored a goal as Al-Ahly defeated visiting TP Mazembe 2-1.


GROUP B STANDINGS:


1. Berekum Chelsea (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Al-Ahly (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Zamalek (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. TP Mazembe (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

CAF Champions League: Etoile du Sahel, Berekum Chelsea Open Group-Stage Play With Wins

Group-stage action in the CAF Champions League commenced on Saturday with two games.


Group A:


At Chlef, Algeria:


Aymen Belaid scored the only goal of the match in the ninth minute as Etoile du Sahel defeated ASO Chlef 1-0 on the road.


Group B:


At Accra, Ghana:


Emmanuel Clottey delivered a hat trick (29', 46', 90'+1) as Berekum Chelsea came from behind to overtake visiting Zamalek 3-2.

CAF Champions League: Mohamed's Hat Trick Sends Al-Ahly Into Group Stage

At Cairo, Egypt:

Mohamed Aboutrika delivered a second-half natural hat trick (54', PK-82', 88') as Al-Ahly battled back from not only their game-one road defeat of two weeks ago but a halftime deficit in game two to overtake visiting Stade Malien 3-1 and win their two-match series 3-2 on aggregate as the second round of the CAF Champions League came to a close on Monday.  Al-Ahly will play in the group stage.  Stade Malien will participate in the CAF Confederation Cup's playoff round.

CAF Champions League: Esperance ST, Berekum Chelsea, Sunshine Stars, Zamalek Advance To Group Stage

The second round of the CAF Champions League continued with four games on Sunday as four clubs advanced to the group stage.


At Harare, Zimbabwe:


Khaled Ayari scored in the 48th minute as Esperance ST gained a 1-1 game-two road draw with Dynamos, much more than enough for the Tunisian club (who are defending champions) to win their two-match series 7-1 on aggregate.


At Garoua, Cameroon:


Berekum Chelsea defeated Coton Sport 2-1 on the road in game two and took their two-match series by that same score on aggregate.


At Akure, Nigeria:


Izu Azuka scored the only goal of the match in the 49th minute as Sunshine Stars defeated visiting Djoliba 1-0 in game two and took out the Malian club 2-1 on aggregate for the two-match series.


At Cairo, Egypt:


Ibrahim Salah (2') and Hazem Emam (48') delivered the goals as Zamalek posted a second 2-0 win over Maghreb Fes, this time at home in game two, and won the series 4-0 on aggregate.


The clubs eliminated on Sunday will play in the Confederation Cup's playoff round.

CAF Champions League: ASO Chlef, Etoile du Sahel Advance To Group Stage

The second round of the CAF Champions League continued with three games on Saturday.


At Chlef, Algeria:


After Karim Ali Hadji scored in the 81st minute to deadlock game two, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and with the two-match series at 2-2 on aggregate, the series went directly to the penalty-kick shootout (no overtime), in which Karim's teammates Samir Zaoui, Mohamed Messaoud, Hocine Achiou, and Toufik Bouhafer all converted their spot kicks as ASO Chlef defeated Al-Hilal 4-2 in the shootout to advance to the group stage.


At Omdurman, Sudan:


Nathan Sinkala scored in the 56th minute as TP Mazembe gained a game-two 1-1 road deadlock with Al-Merreikh, enough for the club from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to advance 3-1 on aggregate.


At Abidjan, Ivory Coast:


Despite dropping a game-two 1-0 road decision, Etoile du Sahel still won their two-game series with AFAD Djekanou 4-2 on aggregate.


The three clubs that were eliminated on Saturday will take part in the playoff round of the CAF Confederation Cup (kinda like the Europa League).