Ugandan side Proline FC came from behind twice to force a 2-2 draw with Libyan outfit Al Nasr Benghazi in the first leg of the Total CAF Confederation Cup play-off round played on Sunday night in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
Bright Anukani scored the equalizer for the Ugandan Cup champions 12 minutes from time to give them a lifeline with two away goals heading into the return fixture in Kampala next weekend.
A scoreless or 1-1 draw in Kampala will be enough to book the side a historic place in the Confederations Cup group stages while Al Nasr must now win or pick a draw of more than three goals in East Africa to go through.
The Libyans broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through lanky forward Moataz Al Mahdi who picked the ball beautifully from 10 yards out before slamming it into the bottom right corner. The North Africans had more chances to score after starting the tie brighter, but missed precious opportunities.
They were made to pay at the stroke of halftime when Mustafa Mujuzi struck a belter of a freekick from the edge of the area catching the keeper completely off-guard.
Al Nasr, just like they did in the opening stanza, started brighter in the second half. They went 2-1 up on 68 minutes when Khalid Madji slotted home from the penalty spot after Richard Ajuna handled the ball inside the box.
Against the run of play, Anukani drew the Ugandans level ten minutes later.
Meanwhile in Nouakchott, Mauritania champions Nouadhibou were too sweet for Zimbabwe’s Sugar Boys, Triangle United, hitting them 2-0 to earn a first leg advantage. The home side scored twice within five minutes to pick the victory and take control of the two-legged tie.
Mahamane Cisse broke the deadlock in the 52th minute before skipper Abdulaye Gueye thundered the net for the second in the 57th minute, to put the homers on course for a first ever appearance at the group stage.
Results
27.10.2019 Conakry Horoya (Guinea) 4-2 Bandari (Kenya)
27.10.2019 Mwanza Young Africans (Tanzania) 1-2 Pyramids (Egypt)
27.10.2019 Aba Enyimba (Nigeria) 2-0 TS Galaxy (South Africa)
27.10.2019 Kampala KCCA (Uganda) 0-0 Paradou (Algeria)
27.10.2019 Nairobi Gor Mahia (Kenya) 1-1 Motema Pembe (DR Congo)
27.10.2019 Maputo UD Songo (Mozambique) 1-2 Bidvest Wits (South Africa)
27.10.2019 N’djamena Elect Sport (Chad) 0-1 Djoliba (Bamako)
27.10.2019 Lusaka Green Eagles (Zambia) 1-1 HUSA (Morocco)
27.10.2019 Malabo Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) 1-3 Zanaco (Zambia)
27.10.2019 Antananarivo Fosa Juniors (Madagascar) 2-0 RS Berkane (Morocco)
27.10.2019 Victoria Cote d’Or (Seychelles) 0-4 El Masry (Egypt)
27.10.2019 Lome ASC Kara (Togo) 2-1 Rangers (Nigeria)
27.10.2019 Nouakchott Nouadhibou (Mauritania) 2-0 Triangle (Zimbabwe)
27.10.2019 Alexandria El Nasr (Libya) 2-2 Proline (Uganda)
*27.10.2019 Kumasi Kotoko (Ghana) vs San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire)
30.10.2019 Thies Generation Foot (Senega) vs ESAE (Benin)
*Match abandoned to due to heavy rains at the end of the first half. Game continues on Monday with the second half.
