Libya shock Algeria in Chan clash

Burkina Faso and Ghana in stalemate

Ahly Tripoli duo Sand Masaud and Muaid Salem Ellafi inspired Libya to a stunning 2-1 win over Algeria in their Chan first-leg clash on Saturday in Constantine.

The shocking victory gives the 2014 champions a narrow lead ahead of the return leg in Sfax on Friday.

Masaud and Ellafi, who have been influential in Ahly’s surprise journey to the last eight of the CAF Champions League, were in inspirational form as the visitors silenced their hosts in front of a partisan crowd in the north-eastern Algerian city.

Oussama Darfalou gave the hosts the lead after just 60 seconds with a low shot that beat Libyan goalie Mohamed Nashnush. The visitors responded five minutes later through Masaud, who finished off a quickly taken freekick for a deserving equalizer.

Three minutes after the break, Ellafi completed a three-man move with Mohamed Aleyat and Mohamed Ghanudi as the other actors to seal victory.

Elsewhere in Nouakchott, Mauritania were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Mali, in a game which saw all four goals in the first half. Mandala Konte put Mali up in the opening minute before Abdoulaye Gaye converted a penalty to level matters on nine minutes.

Samba Moussa ensured Mauritania went up for the first time on the quarter-hour mark only for Aboubacar Diarra to draw even on 21 minutes.

Burkina Faso came from behind twice to hold neighbours Ghana to a 2-2 draw in Ouagadougou. The return leg is set for Kumasi on Sunday. –