ENYIMBA STAGE COMEBACK, DRAW WITH CAF CONFEDERATION CUP TITLE-HOLDERS ZAMALEK 2-2

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Agency Report

Enyimba of Nigeria came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with CAF Confederation Cup title-holders Zamalek of Egypt in Group D on Sunday.

The Cairo club dominated the first half of the matchday 2 clash in South Eastern city Uyo and built a two-goal lead after 40 minutes through Tunisian Seifeddine Jaziri and Omar Faraj.

Enyimba halved the deficit in added time at the end of the opening half when Ifeanyi Ihemekwele lobbed the ball over advancing goalkeeper Mohamed Awad.

The home side put the two-time Confederation Cup winners under pressure from the start of the second half and equalised through a deflected shot from Chinedu Ufere on 57 minutes.

Enyimba created more chances than Zamalek in the closing stages only to be let down by weak finishing.

Among those who watched the match was Enyimba chairman Nwankwo Kanu, the former Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan and Arsenal star, and 1996 and 1999 African Footballer of the Year.

Zamalek won 2-0 at home against Black Bulls of Mozambique on matchday 1, while Enyimba lost 2-0 away to Al Masry of Egypt. Bulls host Masry in Maputo later on Sunday.

CS Constantine of Algeria topped Group A with maximum points after fighting back to edge Simba of Tanzania 2-1, with Brahim Dib scoring the 50th-minute winner.

Mohamed Hussein gave Simba a first-half lead they surrendered one minute into the second half when Abdulrazack Hamza conceded an own goal.

South African outfit Stellenbosch remain pointless in Group B after crashing 3-1 at home to two-time Confederation Cup title-holders Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.

Youssef Zghoudi scored twice within 15 minutes and Reda Hajji added a third goal late in the second half before Chamani Butsaka netted for the hosts.

Orapa United of Botswana, one of six group-stage debutants, put a six-goal Group C drubbing by USM Alger behind them to hold ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast 0-0 in Francistown.

USM were also involved in a goalless draw, at Jaraaf of Senegal, to hold on to first place, ahead of ASEC on goal difference.

The Confederation Cup is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

AFP