A total knockout
The CAF Champions League witnessed impressive shows in the group stage last weekend. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports
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Ismaili's Islam El-Shater escapes an attempt to be tackled by an Enyimba defender and takes full possession of the ball at the Ismailia stadium
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One of the highlights of the CAF Champions League came when Ismailia of Egypt scored three goals in six minutes en route to a 6-1 triumph over Enyimba of Nigeria in a Champions League Group A fixture in Ismailia Stadium last Friday.
The result was a rude awakening for Enyimba, who are harbouring dreams of becoming the first team from Nigeria to win Africa's premier club competition. They had also entered Friday's game buoyant after a 3-0 home win over Simba of Tanzania in their first group match. Their misery was compounded by the dismissal of Ogbonna Okemiri just before half-time.
Atteya Saber converted a late first-half penalty for the hosts, and Abdel-Rahman Traore and Mohamed Abou Greisha struck twice each before captain Emad El-Nahhas got in on the scoring act with a late effort.
Enyimba snatched a consolation goal two minutes into stoppage time, when Obinna Nwaneri found himself unmarked and his shot eluded the outstretched hand of Mohamed Sobhi.
Meanwhile in Group A, Cameroon's Canon Yaounde got off the mark with a 2-1 victory over Angola's AS Aviocao. Francis Oumar was the hero for the home side, netting with a penalty on 15 minutes, and then scoring the winner on 57 minutes. Between Oumar's two goals Antonio "Paulao" Alves got Aviocao's sole goal, another penalty on 30 minutes.
In Friday's other Champions League fixture, Esperance of Tunisia made it two wins out of two when they beat Algeria's USM Alger 1-0 in Group B.
Ivorian striker Amuah Diaky scored the winner three minutes into first-half stoppage time -- his fourth goal of the competition. The Algerians were forced to play in Blida, south-west of Algiers, because of a CAF ban on the main stadium in the capital following crowd disturbances last year.
The home side enjoyed plenty of ball possession time, and were generally in control against ultra-cautious Esperance. But after creating several early chances that were foiled by goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie, the Algerians seemed to run out of ideas.
Giant-killers Simba of Tanzania continued their upset run in the African Champions League on Sunday by beating top seeds ASEC Abidjan 1-0 in group B. Ulimboka Mwakingwe chipped over the onrushing goalkeeper just four minutes after half-time, to give Simba their first win in the league format of the competition. The win followed a 3-0 defeat at Enyimba of Nigeria two weeks ago.
Simba knocked out defending champions Zamalek of Egypt in the second round, and disposed of South African champions Santos in the first knockout round on their way to a place in the last eight.
The home side overcame early jitters to collect the three points in a tough battle in front of a near-capacity crowd at Dar Es- Salaam's small stadium, but they are still behind group leaders Ismalia of Egypt.
ASEC -- top seeds in the draw for the group phase -- had early chances, but Koffi Christian Ndri missed two good opportunities in the opening 17 minutes, first finding the side netting and then having his angled shot saved. The win was vital for beleaguered coach James Sianga'a, who has a testy relationship with club officials and almost left his job just before the start of the group matches.
