There was no bounce-back win for Zamalek in Matchday 2 of the CAF Confederation Cup group phase, with the Egyptian giants held 1-1 at home by Algeria’s NA Hussein Dey in a North African derby.

The White Knights were hoping for a statement win in Group D following their shambolic 4-2 loss to Gor Mahia earlier in the month. They claimed an early lead through Khalid Boutaib, but the visitors levelled the game late on through Faouzi Yaya.

Combined with Petro Atletico’s 2-1 win over Gor Mahia, Hussein Dey have risen to the top of the log on four points, the Angolan and Kenyan clubs are tied for second on three points, while Zamalek are in the ‘wooden spoon’ position with just one point thus far.

Group C sees all four teams level on three points, after Zambia’s Nkana defeated Al Hilal 2-1 in Kitwe (with goals from Freddy Tshimenga and Walter Bwalya), while Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko edged 10-man Zesco United thanks to strikes from Kwame Bonsu and Emmanuel Gyamfi.

Defending Confed Cup champions Raja Casablanca were left frustrated by their goalless stalemate at home to Congo’s AS Otoho in Group A, allowing RS Berkane to take control of the pool with a come-from-behind 2-1 away win over fellow Moroccans Hassania Agadir.

In Group B, Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers and CS Sfaxien remain tied for first place after they drew 1-1 in Tunisia (Alaa Marzouki’s opener was cancelled out by Pape Sane), while Burkina Faso’s Salitas and Etoile du Sahel played out a goalless stalemate in Ouagadougou.

Soka25east.com