Kaizer Chiefs strike early to secure key CAF Cup win

 Pule Mmodi scored after just 108 seconds to give Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa a 1-0 away win over ZESCO United of Zambia on Sunday in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Flavio Da Silva's header from a corner rebounded off the post and Mmodi reacted quickest to tap the ball into the net past goalkeeper Philip Sakauta.

Chiefs never seriously threatened to score again, but ZESCO rarely looked like equalising in a southern Africa showdown that did little to excite the crowd in Ndola.

ZESCO rely heavily of Chad international Amine Hiver for goals, but he was well policed by the Chiefs defence.

A first Group D victory for Chiefs left the Johannesburg club third with four points from three matches. They trail two-time Confederation Cup winners Zamalek of Egypt by one point.

Another Egyptian club, Al Masry, who drew 0-0 away to Zamalek in Cairo, top the table with seven points.

Chiefs have home fixtures against ZESCO and Masry on the next two weekends and two victories would boost their hopes of a top-two finish and qualification for the quarter-finals.

ZESCO are pointless after three straight losses and, with two away fixtures to come, have virtually no chance of surviving the group phase.

The other South African challengers, Stellenbosch, conceded after five minutes and five minutes into added time to lose 2-0 away to Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in Group C.

A clever back heel from Lofti Boussouar set up Abdennour Belhocini to give the home side an early lead with a powerful shot past South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.

Although the livelier team throughout, Belouizdad did not clinch victory until Farid El Melali converted a penalty after Mohamed Ben Hammouda was fouled.

Belouizdad top the table with six points, Stellenbosch and Singida Big Stars of Tanzania have four each and AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville three. It is shaping up to be the tightest of the four groups.

In a make-or-break Group B match, Tanzanian ice cream company club AZAM come from behind to win 2-1 away to Nairobi United of Kenya.

Dancan Odhiambo put African debutants Nairobi ahead on 14 minutes. The lead lasted just three minutes before Congolese Jephte Kitambala equalised.

AZAM went ahead with 12 minutes of regular time left when Ghana-born Nairobi goalkeeper Ernest Mohammed conceded an own goal.

Wydad Casablanca of Morocco edged Maniema Union of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to maintain a perfect Group B record after three rounds with nine points. Maniema lie second with six.

AZAM have three points, and will enjoy home advantage in a potentially crucial match against Maniema in February. Nairobi are pointless.

The Confederation Cup is the second-tier African club competition. It is based on the UEFA Europa League.