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KAIZER Chiefs’ 3-0 mauling at the hands of DR Congo’s AS Vita Club on Sunday was the only one-sided scoreline in what was otherwise a tight weekend of third round, first leg matches. Chiefs had their chances in Kinshasa but were undone by a hattrick from striker Ndombe Mubele that left Amakhosi with a mountain to climb in the second leg on Saturday night at Soccer City.
Holders Al Ahly of Egypt were beaten 1-0 by their Libyan namesakes in Benghazi and must overturn that deficit in the home leg this coming weekend. It will be no easy task against a side that has proved difficult to break down.
Former Dynamos striker, Edward Sadomba was on target for the Libyan side unlike his countrymen at Chiefs Kingstone Nkhatha, Knowledge Musona, Matthew Rusike and Willard Katsande who fired blanks for the South African Glamour Boys.
Zamalek were held 0-0 by Zambian champions Nkana in Kitwe and will fancy their chances in the home leg to come, though will be wary of conceding an away goal that would leave them needing to score twice.
Tunisian giants Esperance were also held 1-1 away at Mali outfit Real Bamako, but again will be confident of getting the win needed in Tunis to advance.
DR Congo’s TP Mazembe were beaten 2-1 at Cote d’Ivoire side Sewe Sports, but that away goal could be crucial with the home leg to come in their fortress of Lubumbashi, where results always seem to favour the home side.
Sudan’s Al Hilal held AC Leopards from Congo to a 1-1 draw in Dolisie, while CS Sfaxien from Tunisia claimed an excellent 1-0 away win at Horoya of Guinea.
Meanwhile the CAF Champions League registration deadline might affect Kaizer Chiefs if they make it to the group stages of the tournament.
In the past few seasons the CAF registration deadline used to run from July 1 to August 10, but with the group stages now kicking off on May 16, the dates might be moved forward.
If that happens, Chiefs will not be able to register the new players they sign next season.
As it stands, Amakhosi are very unlikely to go through following their 3-0 first leg defeat to AS Vita yesterday.
However, the same rules will apply should they drop into the CAF Confederations Cup, which will happen if they fail to reach the Champions League group stages. The same situation also applies to SuperSport United, who are still in the Confederations Cup.
KickOff.com sent out an e-mail to CAF for clarity. They responded:
Registration deadline for the CAF Champions League:
“In past seasons registration of players has run from 1st July to 10th August and coincided with the international break, which allowed for ease of movement of players from one club to another utilising the open transfer window.
“As you rightly observed, the 2014 group games kick-off on the weekend of May 16-18, while the draw for both the Champions League and Confederations Cup will be conducted in Cairo on April 29. The CAF inter-clubs committee, which has a session in Cairo on 26th April, will address the matter and we shall revert on the registration deadline regarding the championship for this year.
“CAF Champions League matches’ impact on players:
“Teams representing Africa at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will not be affected by the schedule of matches of the group stages of the 2014 Champions League as the national sides flying Africa’s colours are constituted largely by players who ply their trade in leagues outside Africa and therefore have no involvement in the CAF Champions League.
“Therefore, Champions League contending clubs and the five CAF Brazil 2014 qualifiers will not be affected by this fixture schedule.”
African Champions League third round first leg results:
In Abidjan: Sewe Sport (Cote d’Ivoire) 2-1 TP Mazembe Englebert (DR Congo).
In Conakry: Horoya (Guinea) 0-1CS Sfaxien (Tunisia).
In Dolisie: AC Leopards (Congo) 1-1 Al Hilal (Sudan).
In Kinshasa: AS V Club (DR Congo) 3-0 Kaizer Chiefs .
In Setif: Entente Setif (Algeria) 1-0 Coton Sport (Cameroon).
In Bamako: Real Bamako (Mali) 1-1 Esperance (Tunisia).
In Kitwe: Nkana FC (Zambia) 0-0 Zamalek (Egypt).
In Tunis: Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) 1-0 Al Ahly (Egypt). — Online.
Online Reporter