South Africa’s Sekhukhune Make Surprise CAF Cup Exit

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South African club Sekhukhune United made a surprise early exit from the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday after losing a qualifier against Angolan outfit Lunda Sul on away goals.

Sekhukhune won the second round, second leg 2-1 in northern city Polokwane, but were eliminated having lost 1-0 in Luanda last weekend.

Keletso Makgalwa scored in each half for the South African side, but it was a first-half equaliser for the visitors from Guilherme Neto that ultimately proved decisive.

This was the second successive tie won by Lunda on away goals after also finishing level on aggregate with Madagascar representatives Elgeco Plus in the first round.

While Lunda are debuting in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, Sekhukhune reached the group stage last year in their first appearance, and were expected to do so again.

The Angolans will join 15 other survivors in a seeded October draw which will split the clubs into four groups with the winners and runners-up in each advancing to the quarter-finals.

African newcomers Nsoatreman of Ghana fared better away than at home when bowing out to CS Constantine of Algeria.

Having lost 2-0 in Ghana last weekend, the rookies restricted Constantine to a single goal with Zakaria Benchaa scoring on 20 minutes to earn his club a 1-0 home win and 3-0 overall victory.

Benchaa scored both first-leg goals and, coupled with one in a first-round victory over Police of Rwanda, is the joint leading scorer in the Confederation Cup this season with four.

Tunisian club CS Sfaxien, record three-time winners of the competition, again found Burundian side Rukinzo difficult to break down and had to settle for a second 1-0 win, and 2-0 overall victory.

Rukinzo played both matches at the ground of Sfaxien as there is no international-standard stadium in Burundi, and they repelled the hosts until Firas Sekkouhi netted on 73 minutes.

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