Mazembe, Pirates suffer first CAF Confederation Cup defeats

African giants TP Mazembe and Orlando Pirates registered their maiden defeats in the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup group stage on Sunday. 

DR Congo’s Mazembe, who are five-time African champions, succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Egyptian side Al Masry at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria. 

Goals from Yaser Hamed and Elyès Jlassi inspired Al Masry to their first win in Group C, but the group leaders are only a point above second-placed Mazembe. 

While Pirates were beaten 3-2 by Libyan champions Al-Ittihad at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi with Omar Al Khouja scoring the winning goal after the restart. 

The defeat left the former African and South African champions, Pirates, in second place on the Group B standings – level on points with leaders, Al-Ittihad. 

Meanwhile, Pyramids FC made it two wins from two matches when they brushed aside Zambian side Zanaco 2-0 at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka. 

Bafana Bafana international Fagrie Lakay scored Pyramids’ two goals as the Egyptian club consolidated their spot at the top of Group A standings. 

Al Ahli Tripoli caused an upset when the Libyan outfit defeated former African champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 2-1 in another Group A game at the Benina Martyrs Stadium. 

While Algerian side JS Saoura secured their maiden win in Group B when they recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Royal Leopards of Eswatini at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers. 

At the Stade de l’Amitié in Cotonou, Benin, ASE Mimosas, who were the hosts, secured a 3-1 victory over Moroccan club RS Berkane in a Group D encounter. 

Lastly, a Group C match between Nigerien champions USGN and Simba SC of Tanzania ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey.  

SuperSport/Nnenna.O