Sudanese club Al Hilal continued their flawless run in the CAF Champions League Group A with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Algerian side Mouloudia Alger on Saturday.
Mauritanian international Guessouma Fofana netted the decisive goal in the 76th minute in an empty Algiers stadium, with Mouloudia playing behind closed doors due to crowd trouble in a qualifier.
The match-winner was crafted by Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman, who delivered an angled free-kick into the box. Fofana’s expertly directed header bounced into the ground and past goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane.
The win sees Hilal top the group with nine points after three games. Mouloudia trail with four points, followed by TP Mazembe (DR Congo) with two and Young Africans (Tanzania) with one.
Despite the civil war that has displaced them from Sudan, Hilal have found a temporary home in Mauritania, competing in both the local league and hosting Champions League matches in Nouakchott. They recently secured a last-gasp win over five-time African champions TP Mazembe.
Hilal’s squad, managed by DR Congo’s Florent Ibenge, boasts players from across Africa, including Sudan, Burundi, Mali, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. Their consistent performances have them poised for a quarter-final spot, with two of their remaining three group matches scheduled at their adopted home ground.
Elsewhere in the CAF Champions League, in Lubumbashi, Tanzania’s Young Africans earned their first group stage point with a dramatic added-time equaliser from Zimbabwean Prince Dube, securing a 1-1 draw against TP Mazembe. Cheikh Fofana had earlier given Mazembe the lead with a 42nd-minute header.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Orlando Pirates moved to the top of Group C but were left frustrated after a 1-1 draw with Stade Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. Evidence Makgopa converted a penalty for the Pirates just before half-time, but Ousmane Meite levelled for Stade in the 53rd minute.
The Pirates lead the group with five points, followed by Al Ahly (4), Chabab Belouizdad (3), and Stade (1). Al Ahly’s fixture against Belouizdad was postponed due to their Intercontinental Cup match, where they lost to Pachuca on penalties.
In Group B, FAR Rabat of Morocco retained their top spot after a 1-1 draw with Maniema Union in DR Congo. Meanwhile, Esperance of Tunisia climbed to the summit of Group D after defeating Pyramids of Egypt 2-0 in Rades.
