JOHANNESBURG, Dec 15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Homeless Sudanese club Al Hilal maintained a perfect CAF Champions League Group A record on Saturday with a 1-0 victory at Algerian rivals Mouloudia Alger.

Mauritania international midfielder Guessouma Fofana scored the only goal after 76 minutes in an empty Algiers stadium after Mouloudia were punished for crowd trouble in a qualifier.

Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman, one of three Sudanese in the starting line-up, was the architect of the match-winner.

He floated an angled free-kick into the heart of the goalmouth. Fofana headed the ball into the ground and wide of goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane.

Victory lifted Hilal to a maximum nine points after three matchdays. Mouloudia have four, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo two and Young Africans of Tanzania one.

A civil war in Sudan, which flared up 20 months ago, forced Hilal to relocate to Mauritania, where they compete in the national championship along with fellow Omdurman club Al Merrikh.

They host Champions League matches in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, where they snatched an added-time victory over five-time African champions Mazembe last weekend.

Hilal have competed in each edition of the premier African club competition since 2004. The Blue Wave reached the semi-finals four times during that period.

With two of their remaining three mini-league fixtures at home during January, Hilal are virtually certain of a top-two finish and a quarter-finals place.

DR Congo-born Florent Ibenge coaches a side that included players from his homeland, Sudan, Burundi, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

Young Africans finally scored and ended a winless run in the group when Zimbabwean Prince Dube grabbed an added-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw away to Mazembe in Lubumbashi.

- Wasteful Orlando Pirates -

Malian Cheikh Fofana had put Mazembe in front on 42 minutes by nodding a cross into the net off a post.

In Group C, South African outfit Orlando Pirates will have mixed feelings after drawing 1-1 with Stade Abidjan in the Ivory Coast.

The Soweto side will be satisfied after replacing defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt at the top of the table, but disappointed at not translating numerous chances into a victory.

Despite dominating the opening half in uncomfortable heat and humidity, Pirates needed a penalty to break the deadlock with Evidence Makgopa scoring from the spot on the stroke of half-time.

Stade, former African champions who are back in the competition after a 54-year absence, were more forceful in the second half and deserved a 53rd-minute equaliser from an Ousmane Meite header.

Pirates have five points, record 12-time Champions League winners Ahly four, Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria three and Stade one.

The fixture between Ahly and Belouizdad was postponed to December 22 as the Cairo club were playing in the Intercontinental Cup, where they lost on penalties to Mexican side Pachuca.

FAR Rabat, the first Moroccan club to be crowned African champions, stayed top of Group B after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Maniema Union of DR Congo in Kinshasa.

Tunisian giants Esperance, runners-up to Ahly last season, replaced another Egyptian club, Pyramids, as Group D leaders thanks to a 2-0 win in the top-of-the-table clash in Rades.