Giants Al Ahly of Egypt made a disappointing return to CAF Champions League group football after a two-year absence by losing 3-2 at Zesco United of Zambia Saturday.
It was the first defeat in the competition for Dutch coach Martin Jol, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, after two victories and two draws in qualifiers.
It was the first defeat in the competition for Dutch coach Martin Jol, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, after two victories and two draws in qualifiers.
Ahly chairman Mahmoud Taher said before the first matchday 1 fixture that it was time for the Cairo Red Devils to conquer Africa again after last winning the competition in 2013. But unfancied Zesco are on a roll, winning five of six qualifying matches before claiming the prized scalp of record eight-time champions Ahly in Copperbelt city Ndola.
John Chingandu gave the Zambian club a first-half lead that was cancelled within two minutes by Ghana-born John Antwi at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Cletus Chama bagged a second-half brace before Antwi pulled one goal back to create a tense climax to the first of 24 fixtures in two groups spread over three months.
The other Group A match involved two former African champions and a Salaheddine Saidi header earned Wydad Casablanca of Morocco a 1-0 away win over Asec Mimosas of the Ivory Coast.
Saidi powered a header into the net off a corner to settle the match in Abidjan and give the Moroccans a great start as they seek a second title after lifting the trophy in 1992.
Group B kicks off late Saturday when Entente Setif of Algeria host Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Enyimba of Nigeria have home advantage over Zamalek of Egypt Sunday.
Defending champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo were eliminated by Wydad in the final qualifying round.
John Chingandu gave the Zambian club a first-half lead that was cancelled within two minutes by Ghana-born John Antwi at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Cletus Chama bagged a second-half brace before Antwi pulled one goal back to create a tense climax to the first of 24 fixtures in two groups spread over three months.
The other Group A match involved two former African champions and a Salaheddine Saidi header earned Wydad Casablanca of Morocco a 1-0 away win over Asec Mimosas of the Ivory Coast.
Saidi powered a header into the net off a corner to settle the match in Abidjan and give the Moroccans a great start as they seek a second title after lifting the trophy in 1992.
Group B kicks off late Saturday when Entente Setif of Algeria host Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Enyimba of Nigeria have home advantage over Zamalek of Egypt Sunday.
Defending champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo were eliminated by Wydad in the final qualifying round.
By: Source: AFP
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