Group A of the CAF Champions League is beginning to take shape, with Al-Hilal Omdurman seizing the top spot after an impressive 2-1 victory over TP Mazembe at home. The Sudanese giants have now claimed two wins out of two matches, setting the pace in the race for knockout qualification.
In front of a passionate home crowd, Al-Hilal opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, thanks to a coolly converted penalty by Abdel Rahman. TP Mazembe, despite falling behind, showed resilience, pushing hard for an equalizer. However, the first half ended 1-0 in favor of the hosts, who defended resolutely.
The second half saw TP Mazembe increase their intensity, and their efforts paid off in the 64th minute when Tsikomb found the back of the net with a precise finish, assisted by Radjabu. With the score level at 1-1, the game became an end-to-end battle as both teams sought the decisive goal.
Just as it seemed the match was destined for a draw, Al-Hilal delivered a dramatic twist. In the first minute of added time (90+1), Girumugisha latched onto a well-timed assist from Khidir, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to secure a 2-1 victory. Despite TP Mazembe dominating large portions of the game, Al-Hilal’s clinical finishing made the difference.
Meanwhile, in the group’s other encounter, MC Alger recorded a 2-0 win over Young Africans in Algiers. The Tanzanian side fought valiantly in the first half, holding their Algerian hosts to a goalless stalemate. However, the deadlock was broken in the 64th minute when Abdellaoui converted a perfectly placed pass from Hallaimia to give MC Alger the lead.
Young Africans continued to press for an equalizer, but their efforts were undone in the dying moments of the match. In the 90+5 minute, Bayazida capitalized on a precise assist from Hamidi to double MC Alger’s advantage and secure all three points.
Group A Standings
- Al-Hilal Omdurman – 6 points (2 matches)
- MC Alger – 4 points (2 matches)
- TP Mazembe – 1 point (2 matches)
- Young Africans – 0 points (2 matches)
With Al-Hilal and MC Alger showing early dominance, the race for qualification promises intense battles in the upcoming matches.
