Zambia’s continental representatives enjoyed contrasting fortunes in their CAF assignments on Saturday, with Red Arrows making a strong start while Power Dynamos were left with work to do after a narrow defeat in Kigali.
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Red Arrows produced a confident display to beat Madagascar’s FC Rouge 2-0 in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round tie.
The Airmen took control early and eventually broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Eliya Mandanji rose to head home a well-delivered cross from Ackim Mumba. Arrows continued to threaten and could have carried a bigger advantage into the interval.
They did not have to wait long after the restart for a second goal. Alassane Diarra struck in the 57th minute to double the lead and give the home side breathing room. Arrows continued to create openings, but the Malagasy side survived further pressure to keep the score at 2-0.
In the CAF Champions League, Power Dynamos suffered a 1-0 defeat to Al-Merrikh at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 39th minute after defender Dominic Chanda was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box. Aboubacar Bachir Bangoura stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty, beating goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga to give Al-Merrikh the lead.
Power could not find an equaliser, leaving the Zambian champions needing a stronger response in the second leg, while Arrows head into their return fixture with a valuable two-goal cushion.