Drama Across Africa as Late Goals Shape CAF Quarter-Final First Legs

Drama Across Africa as Late Goals Shape CAF Quarter-Final First Legs

By Niyi Busari 

Late goals helped Egypt’s Zamalek SC and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad secure important away draws as all four CAF Inter-Club quarter-final first-leg matches ended 1-1 on Saturday, leaving the ties delicately balanced ahead of the return legs, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In the CAF Champions League, holders Pyramids FC fought back to claim a 1-1 draw away to Morocco’s AS FAR at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

The hosts took an early lead when Ahmed Hammoudan struck in the eighth minute. However, the Egyptian side responded after the break, with Mahmoud Zalaka finding the equaliser in the 52nd minute to ensure the defending champions returned home with a valuable away goal.

In another tightly contested encounter, Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco’s RS Berkane at the Berkane Municipal Stadium.

Abdel Raouf gave Al Hilal the lead in the 13th minute, but the visitors were denied victory in dramatic fashion when Mounir Chouiar converted a penalty deep into stoppage time (90+9). Al Hilal also finished the match with 10 men following a late red card for Steven Ebuela.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Zamalek SC secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to AS Otoho d’Oyo at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Brazzaville.

The Congolese side went ahead through Charles Atipo, but the Egyptian club responded through Oday Dabbagh, who netted the equaliser to ensure the defending champions take a crucial away goal back to Cairo.

Meanwhile, CR Belouizdad snatched a late draw against Al Masry at the New Suez Stadium.

Salah Mohsen put the Egyptian hosts ahead, but Algerian midfielder Lofti Boussouar struck in stoppage time to rescue a point for Belouizdad.

With each of the four ties ending level, the race for the semi-final places remains wide open heading into next weekend’s decisive second-leg matches, where the significance of away goals could prove decisive.

Saturday’s Results

AS FAR 1–1 Pyramids FC

RS Berkane 1–1 Al Hilal Omdurman

AS Otoho d’Oyo 1–1 Zamalek SC

Al Masry 1–1 CR Belouizdad