Egypt’s Pyramids FC claimed an emphatic 4-1 win over Nigeria’s Enyimba in Sunday’s 2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup first-leg quarterfinal action.
Raja Casablanca came from behind to hold Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw giving them an advantage going into next week’s 2nd leg action.
Pyramids FC 4-1 Enyimba
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
🇪🇬 Adel nets a brace as @pyramidsfc register a 4-1 victory against @EnyimbaFC in the quarter-finals 1st leg. 🤩#PFCEFC pic.twitter.com/VKNYlyWjVc
— Total CAFCL – Total CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2021
The Egyptian club conceded inside the opening minute of the match but fought back and absolutely demolished the Nigerian giants to claim a comprehensive victory in Cairo.
Ibrahim Adel scored a brace for the home team who now have one foot in the semifinals ahead of next week’s reverse fixture in Aba as Enyimba prepare to host the North African club.
Orlando Pirates 1-1 Raja Casablanca
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
Pule & Malango’s goals cancel out as @RCAofficiel snatch an important away 1-1 draw against @orlandopirates. #TotalCAFCC | #OPFCRCA pic.twitter.com/tnaTM2duiS
— Total CAFCL – Total CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2021
Raja Casablanca were dominant in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup as they won all 6 of their games. However, they had to find a way back against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the Orlando Stadium to end the tie with an advantage since they have an away goal and did not lose the game.
Pirates dominated the early exchanges but found it difficult to break Raja’s defensive line. In turn, the visitors were focused on the task at hand, which was to break on the counter to try and get a goal.
The Moroccans were denied the opener through a vital interception by Thulani Hlatshwayo in the 33rd minute. Malango looked like he was about to score but the Pirates captain managed to head the ball over his own crossbar and away from danger to save his side.
Six minutes later, the Buccaneers found a way past the Green Eagles defence that didn’t concede a single goal in the group stage as a defensive error from Abdeljalil Jbira allowed Pule to run in behind the Raja defence and he made no mistake, finishing past Anas Zniti who could do little to keep out the forward’s left-footed shot in the 39th minute.
Pirates pushed for a second following the break but were punished for a defensive error of their own. A routine free-kick caused the home side all sorts of problems and after overpowering Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Malango fired a low shot past Waynde Sandilands to give the favourites a crucial away goal.
The Buccaneers pressed forward in search of the winner but neither team were able to create any noteworthy chances in the final 30 minutes as the match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
The second leg will be played in Casablanca, Morocco on the 23rd of May. The aggregate winner will face either Pyramids FC or Enyimba for a place in the final and seemingly, it will be Pyramids who will be the next opponents.
Cotonsport 1-0 ASC Jaraaf
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
A late 1st leg 1-0 victory for @FcCoton, courtesy of Lambert Ariana. 🔥#TotalCAFCC | #CTNJSK pic.twitter.com/rgdbHldGhJ
— Total CAFCL – Total CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2021
Contonsport snatched an 89th-minute winner thanks to Lambert Ariana as the Cameroonian side edged past Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf 1-0 in Garoua.
The visitors were reduced to 10-men in the opening half of the match and almost held on for a draw, but Ariana volleyed home with a super strike to give the hosts the smallest of advantages going into next week’s second leg in Dakar.
CS Sfaxien 0-1 JS Kabylie
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS:
Bensayah’s goal secures a crucial 1-0 away win for @jsk_tweet against @CSSofficiel in the #TotalCAFCC quarter-finals 1st leg match. 🥅#CSSJSK pic.twitter.com/zhpeJvX9NZ
— Total CAFCL – Total CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2021
Elsewhere, record three-time CAF Confederation Cup champions CS Sfaxien suffered a shock 1-0 loss at home to Algerian side JS Kabylie.
Rida Bensayah scored the only goal of the game for the visitors who now go back home with a vital away goal advantage. A clean sheet will secure their place in the final four as the winner of this tie will face the winner between Cotonsport and Jaraaf in the semifinals.
The Tunisians have their work cut out after a disappointing showing in Sfax and are far from out of the competition with all to play for in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, next week.