Simba holds USGN to a draw as ASEC thrash Berkane in Abidjan

NIAMEY, Niger

Tanzania’s Premier League champions, Simba SC remained top of the group D after scoring late to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Niger’s Union Sportive Gendarmerie Nationale (USGN).

The home side broke the deadlock after 12 minutes through Gbeuli Wilfried’s shot from the left. Simba’s closest chance to equalize was off a Papa Ousmane Sakho shot but it flew inches over the bar.

On the hour mark, USGN should have gone 2-0 up but Nasser Oumarou’s shot after a long ball from the keeper was flicked to his path went inches wide.

Simba kept their chase for an equalizer and they were rewarded seven minutes from time when substitute Bernard Morrison headed home from the edge of the six-yard box off a Shomari Kapombe corner.

In the other group match, RS Berkane, the 2019-20 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup champions suffered a 3-1 thrashing at the hands of Côte d'Ivoire side Asec Mimosas in Abidjan on Sunday, in their second Group D match.

Charki El Bahri scored a consolation with six minutes of regulation time left, but it was not enough to rally a comeback.

After a goalless first half, Asec blew to life in the second half with Stephane Aziz Ki breaking the deadlock with his second goal in as many matches after 58 minutes. Seven minutes later, Asec were 2-0 up when Souleymane Coulibaly scored the second for the hosts.

They went 3-0 up in the 70th minute when Karim Konate rifled the ball home from inside the box to all but cement their hold on the game.

The victory at home saw ASEC move to second in the group.