South Africa's Marumo qualify despite heavy loss
South African club Marumo Gallants secured a CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals place on Sunday despite being hammered 4-1 by previously winless Al Akhdar in Libya
Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo drew 1-1 with USM Alger of Algeria in the other Group A match, and that result guaranteed Marumo a top-two finish.
Marumo have nine points, USM eight and Lupopo and Akhdar five each with one round of mini-league play to come on April 2.
Despite propping up the table, Akhdar could squeeze into the knockout phase in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League if they defeat USM in Algeria.
Success in the eastern city of Benghazi was particularly sweet for the Libyans as they suffered a 4-1 hiding away to Marumo last month.
Akhdar led 1-0 at half-time and a couple of second-half goals from Angolan Ary Papel ensured the end of a four-match winless run by the north Africans.
Rivers United of Nigeria, Young Africans of Tanzania, ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast and FAR Rabat of Morocco also claimed quarter-finals spots, joining already-qualified US Monastir of Tunisia.
After trailing Diables Noirs of Congo Brazzaville for 41 minutes in the southeastern city of Uyo, Rivers netted twice within four minutes with Nyima Nwagua bagging both.
Deo Bassinga levelled for Diables soon after, setting up a tense finish as Rivers needed at least a point to book a last-eight place from Group B.
ASEC advanced from the same section thanks to two goals from Aubin Kramo, with his second in the final minute earning a 2-1 victory over Daring Club Motema Pembe of DR Congo.
Former African champions FAR edged Pyramids of Egypt 1-0 in Rabat to go top of Group C with the match-winner coming just past the hour mark from Ahmed Hammoudan.
Which team accompanies the Moroccan outfit to the quarter-finals will be decided by the all-Egyptian clash of Pyramids and Future in the final round.
Young Africans ended the unbeaten Group D run of Monastir with goals from Zambian Kennedy Musonda and Congolese Fiston Mayele delivering a 2-0 victory in Dar es Salaam.
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