Matchday one in the CAF Champions League saw 20 goals scored in the eight matches played across the African continent over the weekend.
AfricaPicks has a look at the results from each group and the betting lessons learned from the first round of matches.
Group A
Champions Pyramids FC kicked off their title defense in convincing fashion, brushing off Nigerian outfit Rivers United 3-0 in their opening fixture. Midfielder Ahmed Atef scored a brilliant second half hat-trick to inspire his side to a well deserved victory and place himself at the top of the scoring charts. They sit second in Group A after Moroccan giants Berkane FC were also 3-0 winners against Power Dynamos of Zambia on Saturday afternoon.
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Group B
Record winners Al Ahly also kicked off their CAF Champions League campaign in fine form, destroying Kabylie 4-1. Trezeguet scored a brace to inspire his side to the comfortable win, leaving them atop Group B.
Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC are second in the standings following a slim 1-0 win against FAR Rabat courtesy of a Prince Dube goal. Kabylie and Rabat now have to avoid defeat in their second group matches if they are to keep any qualification hopes alive.
Group C
Serial South African league winners Mamelodi Sundowns stated their intent in pursuing the continental title with an opening 3-1 triumph against St. Eloi Lupopo. Nuno Santos scored twice and Marcelo Allende added a third to sink the DRC outfit, who got their consolation goal through Wanet Kashala.
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Al-Hilal Omdurman are level on points with leaders Sundowns after a commendable performance saw them beat MC Alger 2-1 despite being reduced to 10 men late in the match. A Mustafa Karshom own goal drew Alger level after Abdelrazig Omar had put Al-Hilal in front earlier in the game. Mohamed Abdelrahman was the hero, coming off the bench in the 74th minute and scoring the winner a minute later to ensure all three points for the Sudanese outfit.
Group D
This is the only group that had only one winner as Petro Atletico stunned Simba SC with a 1-0 upset in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. Portuguese midfielder Benny scored the all important goal in the 78th minute to secure all three points for the Angolan side. Esperance de Tunis and Stade Malien played out to a goalless draw in other Group D encounter, leaving Simba rooted to the bottom of the table ahead of matchday two.
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Betting lessons
Home advantage key – Aside from the Simba upset, six of the remaining seven home teams all won their matches. A couple of away wins can be expected as the competition progresses but the favorites playing at home are tipped to win or at least avoid defeat in front of their home fans.
Goals – With 20 goals scored in matchday one, it gives an average of two goals per game which is a decent return. Only three games saw less than two goals scored, giving a good return to over 1.5 goals betting options.
This trend is set to continue, with plenty of thrilling fixtures headlining matchday two.
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Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
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