Minnows lead group after Ahly, Esperance draw

ES Tunis' Anice Badri in action with Al Ahly SC's Hossam Ashour. [Photo: Courtesy]

African giants Al Ahly of Egypt and Esperance of Tunisia drew on Friday when the CAF Champions League group phase began, allowing minnows Township Rollers of Botswana to lead Group A.

Ahly and Esperance fought a 0-0 draw in Alexandria while a Lemponye Tshireletso goal gave surprise qualifiers Rollers a 1-0 win over Kampala Capital City Authority of Uganda in Gaborone.

Rollers top Group A with three points, Ahly and Esperance have one each and KCCA are pointless.

In another match, Mouloudia Alger of Algeria came from behind with 10 men to draw 1-1 at home against Difaa el Jadida of Morocco and share the Group B lead.

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo hosted Entente Setif of Algeria yesterday in the other fixture in the mini-league.

Both fixtures in Group C and in Group D were also staged yesterday with defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco among the clubs in action.

Record eight-time champions Ahly sorely missed two injured strikers, Moroccan Walid Azaro and Nigerian Junior Ajayi, as they failed to score against twice title-holders Esperance. It was the eighth draw in 17 matches between the teams.