Yanga slump to two early goals in Tunisia in CAF CC

• Yanga lost 2-0 to home side US Monastir in Tunisia
• They had chances in the second half
• Their second match will be against TP Mazembe next weekend

Tanzanian league champions Young Africans conceded two quick first half goals as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat in their opening Group D match of the CAF Confederation Cup in Tunis.

Mohamed Saghraoui and new signing Boubacar Traore scored the goals for the hosts.

Monastir broke the deadlock after 10 minutes when Saghraoui found space to head home from a Haykeul Chikhaoui freekick. Monastir were looking dangerous on setpieces and Yanga keeper Djigui Diarra made two good saves consecutively to deny Youssef Oumarou who had headed in from a Hichem Baccar long throw.

But the home side scored a second on the quarter hour mark when Traore thumped home a header unmarked from a Chikhaoui delivery from a corner.

Yanga had been disoriented but they soon found their footing and had a sniff at goal in the 33^rd minute when Stephen Aziz Ki volleyed on target from a Jesus Moloko knockdown but the ball rolled easily into the keeper’s arms.

In the second half, Yanga were more composed and had more chances, dangerman Fiston Mayele seeing his shot from the near post saved by the keeper, before Aziz Ki had a well curled freekick put out by the shot stopper.

Despite added efforts, Yanga could not get themselves back in contention.

Diables Noirs edge out Rivers United

In another match, Congo Brazzaville’s Diables Noirs scored three first half goals to beat Nigeria’s Rivers United 3-0 to assume leadership of Group B. Asec Mimosas and DR Congo’s DC Motema Pembe played out to a barren draw in the other Group B match played at the same time.

In Brazzaville, the home side were keen to make a statement from the word go, and they did so with military precision in a full blown first half performance. Three goals in seven minutes was all they needed to wrap up maximum points.

They broke the deadlock on the half hour mark through Carl Wunda who tapped in from close range, before Jaures Maudsly Ngombe doubled their advantage just two minutes later with a low shot with the keeper off his line.

With eight minutes left to the break, they wrapped up their convincing victory through 19-year old forward Domi Jaures Massoumou.

Nigerians up tempo

In the second half, the Nigerians upped their tempo and just 10 minutes in, they had a chance to draw one back and change the trajectory of the game after Ukeme Williams was brought down inside the box by Josie Mwimba.

However, Gideon Duru saw his penalty comfortably saved by Dhody Foutou. None of their efforts then on could bear any fruits as Diables ensured they kept their guard tight to bank maximum points.

In another match, Egyptian debutants Future FC came from a goal down to hold AS Kara of Togo to a 1-1 draw. Mohamed Farouk scored the leveler for the Egyptians nine minutes to time, cancelling out Kangnivi Ama Tchoutchoui’s first half strike.