The opening day of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage delivered thrilling results, with defending champions Zamalek earning a confident victory, while Algeria’s USM Alger stole the spotlight with a resounding 6-0 demolition of Orapa United.
In Cairo, Zamalek began their Group D campaign with a solid 2-0 triumph over Mozambique’s Black Bulls. Goals from Ahmed Esho and Nabil Dunga on either side of halftime helped the Egyptian giants set the tone as they aim for a third Confederation Cup title.
Two-time champions RS Berkane of Morocco also opened with a 2-0 win over Angola’s CD Lunda Sul, courtesy of a brace from Issoufou Dayo. Meanwhile, USM Alger delivered the day’s most emphatic performance, hammering Botswana’s Orapa United 6-0 in Algiers. Ismael Belkacemi netted twice, with Saadi Radouani, Wale Musa Alli, Nabil Lamara, and Islam Merili adding to the rout against the group stage debutants.
In other matches, Egypt’s Al Masry overpowered Nigerian giants Enyimba 2-0 in Alexandria, with Mahmoud Hamada scoring both goals. Algeria’s CS Constantine earned the only away win of the day, defeating Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien 1-0 with a late goal from Brahim Dib. Mali’s Stade Malien dispatched South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC 2-0 in Bamako, thanks to strikes from Haman Mandjan and Daouda Coulibaly.
Ivory Coast’s ASEC Mimosas also began strongly, securing a 2-0 victory over Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf in Abidjan with goals from Razack Cisse and Kankonde Tshisungu.
The opening fixture of the day saw Tanzania’s Simba SC edge Angola’s Bravo dos Maquis 1-0 in Dar es Salaam. Jean Charles Ahoua’s first-half penalty sealed the narrow win for the Tanzanian side.
The next round of Confederation Cup fixtures is scheduled for Sunday, December 8.
CAF Confederation Cup Results – Wednesday, November 27
- Simba SC 1-0 Bravo dos Maquis
- CS Sfaxien 0-1 CS Constantine
- Al Masry 2-0 Enyimba FC
- ASEC Mimosas 2-0 ASC Jaraaf
- Stade Malien 2-0 Stellenbosch FC
- RS Berkane 2-0 CD Lunda Sul
- USM Alger 6-0 Orapa United
- Zamalek 2-0 Black Bulls
