Sudan make CAF history

Category: Football Created on Monday, 16 July 2012 07:55 Published Date

16-07-2012
by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) - SUDANESE debutants, Al Ahly Shandy beat Cotonsport Garoua to complete a historic day for Sudanese football this past weekend.

The minnows’ 2-0 win over Cameroon’s Cotonsport in the second quarter final of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup saw them through to the group stage of the competition where they join fellow Sudanese giants Al Hilal and Al Merrikh to leave Sudan with three clubs in the mini-league stage, a first in the history of the country.

The victory came hot on the heels of Al Mereikh’s 3-2 aggregate victory over South African outfit Black Leopards and Hilal’s 2-0 success over C.O Bamako of Mali.

Meanwhile, Leopards’ fairytale came to an end at the Ellis Park Stadium
after they were held to a goalless draw by Mereikh.

Watched by an expectant home crowd including South African Football Association leadership and the new national team coach, Leopards came short in the latest setback to hit South African football.

While the South African Premiership is the richest in the continent, its clubs and national teams have been a disappointment in continental competitions.

Zimbabwe’s Dynamos also had a weekend to forget after InterClube of Angola booted them out with a solitary goal.

The eight teams that qualify for the Group Stage are Al Merreikh, Hilal, AC Leopards, Djoliba, Wydad Casablanca, Stade Malien, Interclube and Al Ahly Shandy.