JOHANNESBURG: The first series of African Champions League group matches at the weekend offered no clues as to the likely destiny of a one-million-dollar first prize.
Monomotapa of Zimbabwe confirmed their role as giantkillers at home by defeating 2007 winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia 2-1 with Darryl Nyandoro striking the winner midway through the second half.
Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the other former champions among the eight contenders, triumphed 2-0 at home as expected against severely depleted Heartland of Nigeria.
Al-Hilal exceeded expectations by forcing a 0-0 draw at Al-Merreikh in a Sudan derby the latter were favored to win given more impressive form in the qualifying stage of the premier African club competition.
And Kano Pillars of Nigeria, who delivered the biggest of many shocks in the elimination rounds by ousting defending champions Al-Ahly of Egypt, stretched a run of draws to six by holding Zesco United 1-1 in Zambia.
With eight of 10 former champions failing to make the group phase and five of the teams who did survive appearing for the first time, the pedigree of Etoile and Mazembe has led to them being installed as favorites.
But the first results suggest even outsiders Monomotapa could reach the semi-finals if they can improve on away form that has seen them narrowly defeated in Zanzibar, Cape Town and Abidjan.
Etoile came to Harare hoping to win there for the first time in three visits only to fall behind after just two minutes to a Daniel Kamunhenga goal and although Ahmed Akaichi levelled, they struggled after Nyandoro struck.
Monomotapa are an unfashionable Harare club without big-name footballers who reached the mini-league stage by shocking Ajax Cape Town of South Africa and former title holders ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast.
Consistent Mazembe scorers Mputu Mabi and Dioko Kaluyituka were on target during the second half in Lubumbashi against opponents who traveled to southern Congo minus half their first choice team.
Signs Chibambo returned to Zambia to see his new child, Kabiru Alausa and John Owoeri have gone missing, Julius Ebido is suspended and Joshua Obaje on national youth team duty in Qatar.
Zesco strikers wasted numerous chances before defender Rodgers Kamwandi showed how it should be down with a late first-half headed goal, but Hilary Chukwu snatched an undeserved 77th-minute equalizer in Chililabombwe.
Although the Omdurman clash of bitter rivals Merreikh and Hilal failed to produce a goal, there was no shortage of excitement with the visitors having the better of the first half and the home team on top after half-time.
The second series of group fixtures is scheduled for the weekend of July 31 to August 2 with the highlight pitting Etoile against Mazembe in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse.
