Club Africain and FUS Rabat advance in Confederation Cup

Club Africain of Tunisia and FUS Rabat of Morocco booked a place in the African Confederation Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic climax to Group A.

Africain triumphed 4-0 at home to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) of Uganda on Friday. Manoubi Haddad scored twice and Saber Khalifa and Moataz Zemzemi once for Group A leaders Africain.

                Also on Friday, FUS Rabat beat Rivers United of Nigeria 2-1 at home.

                Mohamed Fouzair calmly converted a penalty two minutes from time as FUS finished level on nine points with Kampala, bringing the head-to-head rule into play.

                The Moroccans came second having won 3-0 at home and lost 3-1 away to the Ugandans.

                Africain and FUS must wait until Saturday night to discover who they will meet in the quarter-finals, but both opponents will be fellow north African clubs.

                Mouloudia Alger of Algeria take a one-point lead into a Group B top-of-the-table clash at record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

                Africain meet the Group B runners-up and 2010 Confederation Cup title-holders FUS the winners in two-legged ties scheduled for September.

                KCCA had hopes of becoming the first Ugandan club to reach the knockout stage of an African club competition, but were thrwarted by a first-half Africain goal rush.

                Captain Khalifa sprang an offside trap to score on 11 minutes, Haddad doubled the lead with a fierce shot and teenager Zemzemi got the third goal four minutes before half-time.

                Africain completed the rout in stoppage time when Haddad broke clear, rounded the goalkeeper and pushed the ball into the net.

                FUS dominated the first half in Rabat and Rivers had several narrow escapes, notably when a fierce Youssef el Gnaoui shot rattled the crossbar.

                However, a minute before half-time Rivers snatched the lead when goalkeeper Aymane Majid failed to grasp a cross and Bolaji Sakin side-footed the loose ball into the net.

                El Gnaoui levelled on 52 minutes and with a stalemate looking increasingly likely, Rivers captain Festus Austin handled inside the box, giving Fouzair the opportunity to become the match-winner.