Huge wins for Simba and Zanaco as Pyramids picks away win

By Our Correspondent, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

Tanzania’s Simba SC and Zambia’s Zanaco handed themselves massive chances of progressing to the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup with healthy 3-0 wins in the first leg of the play-off round ties on Sunday.

In Dar es Salaam, Simba put the hurt of falling out of the Champions League with an emphatic home performance beating Zambia’s Red Arrows.

Bernard Morrison struck a goal in either half in between Meddie Kagere’s goal as Wekundu wa Msimbazi put one foot in the group phase. Morrison broke the deadlock in the 16th minute before Kagere doubled the tally three minutes later.

The Ghanaian forward would complete his brace 12 minutes to time to hand his side a comfortable victory. Arrows had to finish the match with 10 men after Prosper Chiluya was sent off for a straight red card in the 57th minute.

Meanwhile in Lusaka, home side Zanaco also put themselves firmly in control with a similar victory over Mali’s Binga. Abraham Siankombo gave the home side the lead after 37 minutes, one they guarded till half time.

A Moses Phiri double in the second half scored in the 51st and 72nd minutes to give the bankers a comfortable win at home to defend when they travel for the return leg next weekend.

Elsewhere in DR Congo, Mahmoud Wadi’s solo strike in the 15th minute was all Pyramids FC needed to beat AS Maniema. The Egyptians, losing semifinalists last season tournament will head back to Cairo with a slight advantage.

In Lubumbashi, home side TP Mazembe edged out South Africa’s Marumo Gallants by a solitary goal. Marumo skipper Lehlohonolo Nonyane scored in his own net in the first minute of added time in the first half.Nonyane made a huge deflection as he tried to cut out Soze Zemanga’s freekick.

The home side managed to hold on to the slim lead until full time and there will be all to play for when they travel to South Africa for the return tie.

In other results, Morocco's RS Berkane played to a 0-0 draw away to Rwanda’s APR while three time champions CS Sfaxien also picked a similar result away to Kenyan champions Tusker FC.

Royal Leopards of Eswatini won 1-0 at home against Algeria's JS Kabylie. Thabiso Mokenkoane scored the game's lone goal. - Cafonline