[ 2011-08-14 ]

Tunisian, Moroccan clubs rise to top
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Club Africain of Tunisia and
Moghreb Fes of Morocco took over leadership of the
two African Confederation Cup mini-leagues Sunday
after home victories.

A 2-0 win over InterClube lifted 1991 African
champions Club above the Angolans to the top of
Group A while Moghreb pipped Sunshine Stars 1-0 to
replace the Nigerians as Group B pacesetters.

InterClube and Sunshine were suffering their first
pool losses in the third series of matches, but
get a chance of revenge at the end of this month
when they enjoy home advantage in the return
fixtures.

After a shock 2-0 triumph for Daring Club Motema
Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo at JS
Kabylie of Algeria Friday, predictability returned
to the second-tier African club competition.

Club needed to win after being held goalless at
home by Kaduna United of Nigeria two weeks ago and
they overcame police outfit InterClube despite
having Chaker Reguii sent off on the stroke of
half-time.

Defenders scored both goals with Mohamed Yacoubi
putting the Tunisians ahead just past the
half-hour mark in the opening half at the
45,000-seat El-Menzah Stadium in Tunis.

Mid-year signing Braulio Diniz conceded an own
goal 10 minutes after half-time to seal the fate
of InterClube, who held Kaduna away and defeated
ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast at home in earlier
outings.

Former African Champions League winners ASEC
defeated Kaduna 2-1 in Abidjan thanks to a goal
midway through the second half from Ghana-born
Brefo Mensah after N'Doua Irenee Kouakou had put
the home team ahead and Mohammed Abdulmalik
levelled.

Abdelhadi Halhoul was the toast of northern
Moroccan city Fes as his 29th-minute goal for
Moghreb ended the perfect record of African
rookies Sunshine from south-western town Akure.

Precise, one-touch passing carved a gaping hole in
the heart of the visitors defence and Halhoul
broke through to poke the ball wide of the
advancing goalkeeper for a second solitary-goal
home win in a row by Moghreb.

Defeat completed a frustrating week for Stars, who
flew to Fes without visas after claiming the
Moroccan embassy in Abuja stalled the process
while an expired passport meant coach Gbenga
Ogunbote and two players joined the squad only on
match day.

The African Confederation Cup is based on the
European Europa League, offers a 660,000-dollar
first prize and the winners take on the African
Champions League title holders in a one-off game
for the African Super Cup and 75,000 dollars more.

Source - AFP

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