South African club Mamelodi Sundowns lost for the first time in 17 Caf Champions League matches when going down 1-0 to TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.
After a dramatic matchday two, Petro Luanda of Angola are the only team boasting a 100 per cent record this season following four victories in qualifiers and group games.
Title-holders and record 11-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt were held 1-1 by Young Africans in Tanzania and 2023 runners-up Wydad Casablanca of Morocco suffered a second straight defeat.
Having lost to Pyramids of Egypt in the first round last weekend, five-time champions Mazembe were desperate for maximum group A points when they hosted Sundowns in Lubumbashi.
The Congolese succeeded thanks to a 60th-minute goal from Glody Likonza, who took advantage of slack marking to nod a cross past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Sundowns pair Themba Zwane and Khuliso Mudau were foiled by the woodwork as the club lost in the premier African club competition for the first time since falling to Petro in April 2022.
“The players gave everything and I am proud of them,” said Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, who suffered only his second loss in domestic and African competitions since taking charge last year.
Nouadhibou of Mauritania, who had Demini Saleck red-carded after 48 minutes, upset Pyramids 2-0 in Nouakchott in the same section, leaving all four clubs with three points.
YOUNG AFRICANS SNATCH DRAW
Meanwhile, Ahly went ahead in Dar es Salaam after 86 minutes through a rare headed goal by South African Percy Tau.
But Ivorian Pacome Zouzoua equalised in the first minute of added time to give Young Africans their first point after a heavy loss to Chabab Belouizdad in Algeria last weekend.
Ahly have four points, Medeama of Ghana and Belouizdad three each and Young Africans one in group D.
Wydad, who have gone beyond the group stage each season from 2016 and won the competition twice in four final appearances, are in trouble after losing 1-0 to ASEC Mimosas in the Ivory Coast.
The defeat came one week after the Moroccans suffered a stunning home defeat by the group B outsiders Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.
Sankara Karamoko scored the 72nd-minute winner in Abidjan, poking the ball into the net after goalkeeper Youssef el Motie had parried the ball twice.
ASEC top the table on goals scored from Jwaneng, who were held 0-0 at home by Simba of Tanzania. Pointless Wydad are last.
Petro, semifinalists two seasons ago, surprised Etoile Sahel 2-0 in Tunisia thanks to two goals from Portuguese Alexandre Guedes.
The Luanda club have six points in group C, Al Hilal of Sudan and four-time title-holders Esperance of Tunisia three each and Etoile none.
© AFP