1. Peodoh Pacome Zouzoua saves Young Africans yet again
Zouazoua, 26, joined Young Africans from Asec Mimosas in the summer transfer window and is proving to be a wonderful signing for Yanga. At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Zouzoua scored a brilliant solo goal after driving the ball through Medeama’s midfield and releasing a fine low shot to equalise for the away team. On MD2 in Dar es Salaam, he scored a brilliant equaliser for Yanga against Al Ahly which secured a crucial point for them. He is turning out to be their saviour whenever the game is tough. He has scored Yanga’s two goals in the group stage.
2. Julien Chevalier’s Ivorian entourage is enjoying life in Group B
A win over Jwaneng Galaxy on a fortnight in Abidjan will qualify Asec Mimosas for the Knockout stage as they have 7 points from three games. Sankara Karamoko’s brace in Botswana was enough to record a superb 2-0 win for the Ivorian giants against Jwaneng Galaxy. Asec Mimosas is indeed an Ivorian team as all the members of the playing body are from Ivory Coast. Julien Chevalier, the French tactician is finding things easier at the moment as his boys are enjoying the competition.
3. Petro Atletico shuts down Tunisia
Two visits in seven days in Tunisia against Etoile du Sahel and Esperance Tunis is probably the biggest 7-day job on the continent. These two teams are known to be hostile when it comes to their home games so for Petro Luanda to visit these two Tunisian giants in a space of seven days and win 4 points from 6 is incredible. Petro Atletico hosts Esperance Tunis in MD4 as a win for the Os Tricolores will almost secure a place in the knockout stage for the Angolans.
4. Al Ahly’s inefficiency in scoring is a major concern for Marcel Koller
Al Ahly in Cairo drew 0-0 against Algerian champions CR Belouizdad. It is a great point for the Algerians but a very poor one for Al Ahly. Marcel Koller started Percy Tau, Hussein El Shahat and Karaba upfront for the Red Devils but none was able to find the back of the net due to total wastefulness. Anthony Modeste came on in the 78th minute for Afsha yet the deadlock was not broken. Al Ahly must start to work on their scoring if they want to defend their title.
5. Nouadhibou continues to do the unthinkable
The debutants are on four points like Sundowns, TP Mazembe and Pyramids after MD3. I believe few people gave them the chance to even pick one point in the available eighteen but the Mauritanian minnows are doing their job well. A goalless draw against TP Mazembe is something incredible considering the pedigrees and the budgets of the two teams. They have already exceeded expectations and a slot for the knock phase will be the icing on the cake though it will be extremely difficult.
6. Evans Adotey Augustine, “We can beat Yanga in their backyard”
Medeama SC shared the spoils with Tanzanian giants Young Africans on Friday in Kumasi. After the game, “Medeama’s coach, Evans Adotey was in a buoyant mood and told the press during the post-match press meeting that the Mauve and Yellow can also damage Yanga in their backyard.
He said,” We can beat Yanga in their backyard because football is full of uncertainties”.
