Sello Rabothata

Sello Rabothata

Now that Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars are out of the CAF Champions League tourney and campaigning in the Confederation Cup, South Africans are focused on the latter.

That's the way it should be for patriots, but for football connoisseurs CAF's premier event remains the one to follow whether you have a team there or not.

And, what better way to do that than through the African Soccer Television show the screens on SABC1 Sport's Laduma programme on Sundays.

As the two local clubs were entertaining their opponents in first-leg encounters at home, the Champions League moved into top gear with the usual suspects featuring prominently once again.

The Ivory Coast's Asec Mimosas found the going tough away in Zimbabwe as they crashed 2-1 to Dynamos in an entertaining encounter.

Things were happening in the land of pyramids as the Egyptian league giants and past winners of the coveted cup, Al Ahly and Zamalek faced each other in one of the world's top soccer derbies, which Al Ahly won 2-1.

In Sudan, Al Hilal made real use of home-ground advantage to see them through in a five-goal thriller against Nigeria's Enyimba, which the hosts won 3-2.

In Cameroon, Cotonsport pipped the Democratic Republic of Congo's TP Mazembe 1-0 in a tight and very defensive game.

Other highlights this week are the Confederation Cup game between Interclube and Monte Cameron, which Interclube won 2-1.

Then there is the Zimbabwe League's 1-all draw between Highlanders and Dynamos.