JOHANNESBURG, Sept 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Mohamed Farouk rescued big spending
Egyptian club Pyramids in a 1-1 home draw against CR Belouizdad of Algeria
Saturday in a CAF Confederation Cup last 32 first leg.
He equalised on 75 minutes in Cairo after Amir Saoud had put the visitors
ahead 10 minutes earlier in a high profile clash in Cairo.
A spending spree fuelled by Saudi petro dollars elevated Pyramids into the
top three in Egypt last season behind traditional giants Al Ahly and Zamalek.
With domestic football in recess, Pyramids have set their sights on
advancing in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
But Belouizdad are set to win the two-leg tie later this month with a
goalless draw in Algeria sufficient to see them through to a play-off against
a CAF Champions League last 32 loser.
Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, who lost on penalties to Zamalek in the
final last season, launched a bid to go one step further by losing 3-2 away
to Ashanti Gold of Ghana in Obuasi.
Trailing by two goals at half-time, Berkane levelled thanks to goals from
Mohamed Aziz and Hamdi Laachir within three minutes.
But the Ghanaians were not to be denied a first leg victory and Amos Addoi
scored the winner just short of the hour.
Young Buffaloes of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) followed up a shock
preliminary round win over Buildcon of Zambia by defeating South African
visitors Bidvest Wits 1-0 in Manzini.
Fanelo Mamba was the match-winner, netting after only two minutes to give
eSwatini football a lift after an unexpectedly early exit from the 2022 World
Cup qualifiers this week,