It was a disappointing start for the Nigeria representative Enyimba International at the inaugural edition of the African Football League as they suffered a home defeat to Wydad Casablanca
The competition kicked off on Friday with Ahly of Egypt picking an away draw against Simba SC of Tanzania.
Simba SC recovered from a goal down to lead before Al Ahly hit back to ensure the first-leg tie is evenly poised.
The first half was tightly contested until Al Ahly struck against the run of play through Reda Slim in the first minute of stoppage time.
But Simba turned the game on its head after the break, equalizing through Denis Kibu in the 53rd minute before Sadjo Kanoute put the hosts ahead on the hour mark.
However, the Tanzanian side’s lead lasted just three minutes as Ahmed Kahraba immediately pegged them back to make it 2-2.
Neither team could find a late winner in a thrilling end-to-end finish as the first leg ended level.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundown of South Africa recorded the first away win of the tournament with a 0-2 away win over Petro Luanda in Angola.
Marcelo broke the deadlock in the 67th minute before Maseko made it 2-0 in the 80th minute to make the game safe for Sundowns, after a scoreless first half of the match.
The second leg is slated for Johannesburg next week.
In the same vein, A first-half goal from teenage sensation Cheick Oumar Fofana earned TP Mazembe a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisian side Esperance in their African Football League (AFL) quarter-final first leg.
The 19-year-old striker headed Mazembe in front just 11 minutes in at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania on Sunday to give the DR Congo club a slender advantage.
However, the Nigeria Premier League champions hosted the Wydad Casablanca on Sunday evening at the Goodwill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Yahya Jabrane netted the only goal of the game just before half-time and ensured a comfortable lead for Wydad going into the locker room.
The People’s Elephant fought hard in the second half, but they were unable to break down the well-organized Wydad backline as the game ended 0-1.
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