Two-time African champions Enyimba began their 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup campaign on a losing note after suffering a 2-0 loss to Egyptian side Al Masry at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, on Wednesday.
The hosts showed intent from the blast of the whistle with consistent forward play, and they were rewarded for their effort with a fifth-minute goal from Egyptian midfielder Mahmoud Hamada.
Hamada doubled his and Al Masry’s tally in the second half with another strike in the 74th minute to ensure maximum points were garnered.
FT AL MASRY SC 2🆚0 ENYIMBA FC
🎯 Not a pleasant outing for the People’s Elephant in Pharaoh’s Land, but we move.#Together4Victory#ChampionsUnite pic.twitter.com/p3lB7PxUMZ
— Enyimba FC (@EnyimbaFC) November 27, 2024
The victory took Al Masry to the top of Group D, with defending champions Zamalek in second place after the Egyptian club also secured a 2-0 win over Mozambican side Black Bulls at the Cairo International Stadium.
Enyimba, led by Yemi Olanrewaju, will face another tough test in their second group game as they will welcome Zamalek to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday, December 8, while Al Masry will visit Black Bulls on the same day.
In Wednesday’s other games in the CAF Confederation Cup, Tanzania’s Simba SC pipped Bravos do Maquis of Angola 1-0 thanks to a first-half penalty from Jean Ahoua.
CS Sfaxien were beaten 1-0 at home by CS Constantine; Mali’s Stade Malien overcame Stellenbosch of South Africa 2-0; Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas were 2-0 winners against ASC Jaraaf of Senegal.
At the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algeria, USM Algiers completed a 6-0 rout of Botswana’s Orapa United, while two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners RS Berkane saw off Angolan side Lunda Sul 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Burkina Faso defender Issoufou Dayo.
