Belouizdad blank Yanga in group stage opening onslaught

Algerian champions CR Belouizdad issued an early CAF Champions League statement by defeating Young Africans 3-0 in Friday's Group D opener in Algiers.

First-half goals from Abdel Raouf Benguit and Abdelrahmane Meziane gave Belouizdad control before Lamine Jallow sealed victory in added time.

The ruthless display puts Belouizdad top ahead of Egyptian giants Al Ahly's Saturday clash with group debutants Medeama SC.

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Belouizdad quickly seized the initiative when Benguit smashed home after 10 minutes. Meziane then doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime after a rapid counter.

With away opponents Young Africans struggling to contain the lively hosts, the game was put to bed in the 94th minute as Jallow slotted the third.

It condemned the Tanzanians to a repeat of last year's round-of-32 elimination by the same opponents en route to the quarter-finals.

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This time Belouizdad maintained the rage throughout, never allowing Young Africans to gain any foothold.

The result puts early pressure on Al Ahly to match Belouizdad's fast start when they meet Ghana's Medeama on Saturday.

But after this powerful performance, coach Marcos Paqueta’s Algerian champions have set the early Group D pace.

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Elsewhere, South African Fagrie Lakay scored to give Pyramids of Egypt a 1-0 win over TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday in the first 2024 CAF Champions League group match.

When the ball was crossed from the right wing on 54 minutes, Fiston Mayele chested it back to Lakay, who unleashed a low shot that flew past goalkeeper Alioune Faty into the corner.

Senegalese Faty was deputising for injured first choice Baggio Siadi, and Mazembe defender Kevin Mondeko was also ruled out of the Group A clash in Cairo.

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Pyramids, who have lived in the shadows of more successful and popular Cairo neighbours Al Ahly and Zamalek for many seasons, are playing in the elite African competition for the first time.

Mazembe, five times winners of the Champions League, were returning to group action after being eliminated at the qualifying stage in the past two seasons.

Reporting by CAF and AFP