Mazembe force draw at Bejaia to retain lead

The winners of nine African titles, including five successes in the premier CAF Champions League competition, have seven points after three rounds. 

African debutants Bejaia have five points, Medeama of Ghana two and Young Africans one with three matchdays remaining and two semi-finals spots up for grabs.

One of those places seems destined to be filled by Mazembe, who began this year in the Champions League only to lose a final-round qualifier and be demoted to the second-tier Confederation Cup. 

They have home fixtures against Bejaia and Young Africans ahead with a visit to Medeama in between, and it would be a shock if they collapsed after an unbeaten three-game run. 

A goalless draw in Bejaia was not surprising as three of the six Group A matches have produced stalemates and only eight goals have been scored at a paltry average of 1.33.

What the result does is offer a glimmer of hope to Medeama, who came from behind to hold Young Africans 1-1 in Dar es Salaam Saturday.

Should Medeama beat Young Africans at home on July 26 and Bejaia lose away to Mazembe the following day, the Ghanaian and Algerian clubs would be level on points with two matchdays left.

In Group B, FUS Rabat triumphed 3-1 at Kawkab Marrakech Friday in a Moroccan derby and title-holders Etoile Sahel of Tunisia trounced Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya 3-0 in Mediterranean resort Sousse.

Former Confederation Cup winners FUS have seven points, Kawkab six, Etoile four and Ahly are pointless with three rounds to come.