A superb solo goal from Soumaila Sidibe set up Etoile Sahel of Tunisia for a 2-0 victory at CS Constantine of Algeria on Friday as 2023-2024 CAF Champions League qualifying kicked off.
The Guinean received possession halfway inside the Constantine half and dribbled past several Algerians before beating goalkeeper Kheireddine Boussouf from close range.
Hamza Jelassi sealed success for the visitors by converting a penalty eight minutes into added time in northeast Algeria.
Etoile are seeking a second Champions League tile after a stunning 3-1 away triumph over Al Ahly of Egypt in the second leg of the 2007 final.
They are the only winners of all five CAF club competitions. Apart from the Champions League, they boast two victories each in the Confederation Cup, Super Cup, Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup.
This is the 16th appearance of the Tunisian outfit in the Champions League. If they complete an aggregate victory next weekend will face ASKO Kara of Togo or FAR Rabat of Morocco.
Some of the gloss was taken off the Etoile victory when spectators wearing their club colours broke chairs and threw flares in the stadium.
Saint George of Ethiopia look set to face title-holders and record 11-time winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the next round after a 2-1 away win over KMKM of Zanzibar.
The Zanzibaris were disadvantaged by having to play their home match on the Tanzanian mainland for undisclosed reasons.
They fell behind as half-time approached when Beneyam Demte finished off a low cross after a move down the right flank.
When the KMKM goalkeeper misjudged a corner early in the second half, Natnael Zeleke headed into the net at the far post.
Salum Salum halved the deficit from a penalty, but an equaliser eluded the Zanzibar champions in Dar es Salaam.
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