Tanzanian powerhouses Young Africans and Simba asserted their dominance in the CAF Champions League last 32 first-leg qualifiers with remarkable away displays on Saturday.
Kennedy Musonda and Cement Mzize found the net, securing a 2-0 victory for Young Africans against Al Merrikh of Sudan. Due to the continuing conflict in their home country, Al Merrikh had to host the match in Rwanda.
Simba displayed resilience, twice bouncing back to secure a 2-2 draw against Zambia's Power Dynamos in Ndola. Clatous Chama delivered the crucial second equalizer in added time.
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In a showdown between former champions, Hamza Jelassi found the net, clinching a 1-0 victory for Tunisia's Etoile Sahel against Morocco's FAR Rabat in the Mediterranean resort town of Sousse.
Mauritania is poised to make history with a representative in the group stage for the first time. Nouadhibou built a surprising 3-0 lead over Real Bamako in Mali, courtesy of Sidi Amar's two goals.
Young Africans were runners-up to USM Alger of Algeria in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup last season and are poised to book a first mini-league place following 11 failed attempts.
Zambian Musonda struck on 61 minutes in Kigali, and Mzize doubled the lead 19 minutes later in front of several thousand Tanzanian supporters, who travelled in a 50 mini-bus convoy.
Tunisian coch Nasreddine Nabi quit the Dar es Salaam outfit after the Confederation Cup final, saying he wanted a fresh challenge, and was hired by Moroccan club FAR Rabat.
He was replaced by Miguel Gamondi, a 59-year-old Argentine who has coached in Libya, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Simba, the arch domestic rivals of Young Africans, have reached the Champions League quarter-finals three times in the past five seasons.
Zambia-born Chama starred for the Tanzanian outfit against his compatriots, with his second-half goals cancelling leads given to Power Dynamos by Joshua Mutale and Cephas Mulombwa.
Jelassi struck midway through the second half for Etoile, who stunned Al Ahly of Egypt by winning the second leg of the 2007 final 3-1 n Cairo.
After seven failed efforts to get past the qualifying stage, Nouadhibou rattled Real Bamako with a first-half goal from Oumar Mangane followed by two after the break from Amar.
