Algerian club advances in African Cup

Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad of Algeria became the first club to reach the final qualifying round of the African Confederation Cup with a 2-0 home triumph over Al-Amal of Sudan Friday.

Soufiane Mebarki and Seddik Berraja scored the goals that saw Belouizdad advance 2-1 on aggregate after losing the first leg 1-0 in Atbara two weeks ago.

The team from the capital Algiers must wait until May 13 before knowing which African Champions League third-round loser they face for a mini-league place in the second-tier African Football Confederation competition.

Belouizdad shook off modest domestic championship form to take a 13th-minute lead through Mebarki and Berraja struck the crucial second goal 14 minutes from full-time.

Reaching the last-16 stage marks a big improvement for Chabab, who competed in the first African Confederation Cup six years ago and were eliminated after the opening qualifying round.

There are a further five fixtures Saturday and two Sunday with title holders Stade Malien of Mali among the clubs in trouble having lost 2-0 at FUS Rabat of Morocco.