RETURN OF THE BIG SHOTS IN CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Cairo, Egypt

AFRICAN soccer ‘big shots’ have shown an impressive return in the race of CAF Confederations Cup after winning their crucial games over the weekend.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko gave themselves a huge boost towards a last eight place after a 3-0 win over Zambia’s Nkana in their Group C Day Four clash Sunday in Kumasi.

Following a 3-1 loss from the reverse in Kitwe last week, the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ made a couple of changes to the team introducing some new faces into the squad in the quest for victory.

With their vociferous fans behind them in full support with their songs and chants, Kotoko started the game on the front foot pinning the visitors in their own half, and it came as little surprise when Abdul Fatawu Safiu got the opener as early as the fifth minute through a free kick which goalkeeper Allan Chibwe failed to stop despite getting the direction.

Incensed by their teeming fans, Kotoko continued to pile more pressure on the struggling visitors Nkana thereby winning series of free kicks in the process.

One soon became two as Emmanuel Gyamfi latched on to a Yacouba Songne shot to tap home the second goal in the 23rd minute.

Just when Nkana were looking to find their feet, Kotoko struck with the third goal through Martin Antwi whose free kick beat everyone including the Chibwe on 27 minutes.

The win pushes Kotoko to six points tied on Nkana, one shy of leaders El Hilal of Sudan who beat Zesco of Zambia 3-1 in the other group C clash in Omdurman.

The win enhanced El Hilal’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2012.

It took just ten minutes for the Sudanese giants to take the lead through an unmarked Mohamed Eldai who tapped in a pass from Bakhet Hamid assist.

Bakhet got in on the act in the 36th minute with a fine shot from range to confirm Hilal’s domination.

But Zesco pulled one back two minutes later through Lazarus Kambole who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Salim Magoola while he was sandwiched between two defenders.

Hilal then turned on the screw after the break as Zesco retreated into their half but this time showing more discipline in the midst of the Blue Wave from Omdurman.

Zesco slump to bottom of Group C on four points after the loss and are now winless in their last three matches at the group stage, keeping their qualification hopes in jeopardy.

Salitas of Burkina Faso failed to score for the fourth consecutive Group B match when held 0-0 at home by record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

Another Tunisian challenger, Etoile Sahel, have seven points, Sfaxien six, Enugu Rangers of Nigeria four and Salitas three.

Abderrahmane Yousfi’s ninth minute strike was enough as Algeria’s Nasr Athletic Dey hit Kenya’s Gor Mahia 1-0 in Algiers on Sunday to move back to the top of Group D in the CAF Confederations Cup.

African giants Zamalek of Egypt clawed back into the CAF Confederation Cup title race Sunday with a 1-0 victory at Petro Atletico of Angola.

Desperate for three points after a poor start in Group D, the Cairo White Knights achieved their objective thanks to Moroccan striker Hamid Ahaddad.

He netted after 27 minutes at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda to lift Zamalek from the bottom of the table to third place, one point behind Gor Mahia.