Mahmoud Kahraba of Al Ahly and Ibrahim Adel of Pyramids each netted twice as the Egyptian contenders went on scoring sprees when the CAF Champions League group stage began on Tuesday.

Playing in different Cairo stadiums, holders Ahly beat Stade Abidjan of Ivory Coast 4-2 in Group C and Pyramids hammered Sagrada Esperanca of Angola 5-1 in Group D.

The eight-match opening round in the premier African club competition also delivered several surprises with Al Hilal of Sudan and Orlando Pirates of South Africa winning away matches.

Hilal, who must play all their matches outside Sudan because of a civil war, defeated Young Africans of Tanzania 2-0 in Group A in Dar es Salaam.

Mohau Nkota scored twice in the opening half as Pirates edged more experienced African campaigners Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria 2-1 in Group C in Algiers.

Record 12-time champions Ahly hope this season to become the first club to win the Champions League three consecutive times having achieved back-to-back titles on four occasions.

After building a three-goal lead over Stade within 26 minutes, Ahly conceded for the first time in 13 Champions League matches spanning two seasons when Kassoum Kone reduced the deficit.

Kahraba completed his brace early in the second half before a Roger Assale goal for the Ivorians gave the scoreline a less one-sided appearance.

Pyramids are a rising force in Egypt, with huge cash injections from several Middle East owners allowing the club to challenge traditional giants Ahly and Zamalek.

– Angolans overrun –
They failed to get past the group stage in their first Champions League appearance last season, winning just once in six outings.

But they overran Sagrada in the second half, scoring four times before ‘Cachi’ netted for the visitors in added time.

Hilal soaked up considerable pressure before twice exposing Young Africans in the second half with counterattacks that delivered goals from Malian teenager Adama Coulibaly and Yasir Mozamil.

South African Khanyiso Mayo came off the bench to pull one goal back for Belouizdad after half-time, and Pirates survived a late penalty appeal and a shot that flew just wide.

Mamelodi Sundowns, the other South African challengers, disappointed when held 0-0 in Pretoria by group debutants Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group B.

Content to defend in the first half, the Kinshasa outfit came close to a shock win after half-time with Jephte Kitambala just off target and Exaucia Moanda rattling the woodwork.

Esperance of Tunisia, runners-up to Ahly last season, took advantage of a fourth-minute blunder by Djoliba of Mali goalkeeper Youssouf Koita to open the scoring in a 4-0 Group D victory.

Koita allowed a soft shot from Raed Bouchniba to slip under his body into the net, and South African Elias Mokwana doubled the lead before half-time.

Matchday two is scheduled for December 6-8 with the visit of Ahly to 1995 champions Pirates the standout fixture.

© Agence France-Presse

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