ZCZC
BSP-06
FBL-AFR-C1
Swiss coach celebrates birthday with debut win at Ahly
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Swiss coach Rene Weiler celebrated
his 46th birthday Saturday by debuting as Al Ahly of Egypt coach with a 2-0
win at Cano Sport of Equatorial Guinea in the CAF Champions League.
A couple of second half substitutions during the last 32 first leg in
Malabo paid rich dividends with young Salah Mohsen and veteran Walid Soliman
coming off the bench to score.
Weiler replaced Uruguayan Martin Lasarte, who was fired after Ahly were
beaten in the domestic cup competition and failed to complete a double having
won the league.
The result in the part-island central African nation virtually assures the
record eight-time African champions of a place in the group phase.
Cano are competing in a CAF competition for the first time and will
understandably be nervous ahead of the return match as Ahly scored nine times
at home in a preliminary game last month.
Zamalek, the other Egyptian contenders and Cairo neighbours of fierce
rivals of Ahly, fell 2-1 away to Generation Foot of Senegal in Thies.
It would have been worse for the five-time African champions, however, had
Mostafa Mohamed not snatched a precious away goal on 74 minutes after Mame
Gueye scored twice for home team.
It was the first loss in five matches in all competitions for new Zamalek
coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, who guided the club to victory in the
Egyptian FA Cup final last weekend.
Former champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa took advantage of a kind
last 32 draw to overwhelm Cote d’Or of the Seychelles 5-0 in Victoria.
Tiyani Mabunda led the goal romp with a brace and Lyle Lakey, Sphelele
Mkhulise and Wayne Arendse also netted in an Indian Ocean island more
renowned for tourism than football prowess.
Green Eagles of Zambia, who shocked Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the
preliminary round, had less success against 2018 semi-finalists Primeiro
Agosto of Angola and lost 2-1 at home.
Mabululu gave the Luanda outfit a half-time advantage and Kilo from the
Democratic Republic of Congo scored the 85th-minute winner after Amity
Shamende levelled.
The other Zambian challengers, Zesco United, snatched a 1-1 draw against
Young Africans of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam thanks to a stoppage time
leveller from Zimbabwean Thabani Kamusoko.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1028 hrs