CAF Confederation Cup: Diables Noirs, TP Mazembe and Marumo Gallants impress

Knocked out early in the CAF Champions League yet again, TP Mazembe have dropped into the CAF Confederation Cup. And the Corbeaux are hoping to repeat the feat of 2016 and 2017, when they won the trophy twice. The Congolese have made a good start in the group stage. In front of their home crowd in Lubumbashi, they comfortably beat Real de Bamako (3-0).

Kitambala (24th), N'gonga (38th) and Mwamba (90th) were the scorers for the Congolese club. Coulibaly had equalised for the Malians in the 32nd minute, but it was short-lived. The Congolese thus go top of Group D ahead of US Monastir, who beat Young Africans (2-0).

Aymen Mahious returns and scores

In Group A too, Marumo Gallants were in ruthless form. The South Africans comfortably saw off Libya's Al Akhdar (4-1). They go top of Group A ahead of USM Alger. The Algiers club also hammered FC Lupopo at home (3-0). Bousseliou scored twice and Aymen Mahious, an African runner-up last week, got the third.

On this opening matchday, there were therefore no away wins. AS FAR Rabat came closest. The Moroccans led 2-1 at Pyramids FC, but the Egyptians eventually equalised.

CAF Confederation Cup: matchday 1 results

Pyramids 2-2 FAR Rabat

USM Alger 3-0 Saint Eloi Lupopo

Marumo Gallants 4-1 Al-Akhdar

TP Mazembe 3-1 Réal Bamako

ASEC Mimosas 0-0 Motema Pembe

Diables Noirs 3-0 Rivers United

ASKO de Kara 1-1 Future

Monastir 2-0 Young Africans