Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Raja crush ASEC to take charge of Confederation Cup group

Morocco international forward Zakaria Hadraf scored twice as Raja Casablanca moved to the top of their CAF Confederation Cup Group A with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas on Sunday.

Mahmoud Benhalib had opened the scoring for Raja, before Hadraf added two more first half goals to set the side on their path to the quarterfinals. Benhalib grabbed his second with a penalty just past the hour-mark.

In the other match in the pool, striker Jean-Marc Makusu scored twice as DR Congo side AS Vita Club defeated Aduana Stars from Ghana 2-0 in Kinshasa. Makusu has now netted six goals in CAF club competition this season following his arrival in January from Egyptian side Wadi Degla.

Raja have eight points from their four games to head the pool, followed by Vita Club (seven), Stars (four) and ASEC (three).

Egyptian side Al-Masary claimed a vital 1-0 victory over RSB Berkane in the battle between the top two sides in Group B. Islam Issa scored the only goal of the game in Port Said after 53 minutes as Al-Masary moved to the top of the pool.

Earlier, Sudanese side Al-Hilal were held to a 1-1 draw at Mozambique club UD Songo. Songo scored inside five minutes through striker Mario, but Al-Hilal equalised early in the second half via Sharaf Shiboub Ali, with neither side able to find a winner.

Al-Masary lead the group with eight points, followed by Berkane (seven), Al-Hilal (three) and Songo (two).

In Group C, Ivorian club Williamsville AC moved to the top of the pool with a 2-0 victory over Nigerian side Enyimba thanks to goals in each half by Jean-Willy Kouassi and 17-year-old Guy Yameogo.

That result, coupled with a slender 1-0 victory for Congolese side CARA-Brazzaville over Djoliba, thanks to a strike from 16-year-old Racine Louamba, saw Williamsville climb to the summit.

They have seven points from their four games, followed by CARA and Enyimba with six each, and Djoliba with four, in a pool that is still very open. Kenyan side Gor Mahia moved to the top of Group D with a 3-2 success at Young Africans from Tanzania, whose chances of making the knockout stages have evaporated.

George Odhiambo, Rwandan Jacques Tuyisenge and Haron Shakava were on target for the visitors, while second half goals from Deus Kaseke and Raphael Loth kept Young Africans in the contest.

USM Alger were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home by Rayon Sports from Rwanda, though they remain heavy favourites to make the next round. Mali striker Ismaïla Diarra gave Rayon a first half lead and it needed an equaliser six minutes from time by Mohamed Hamia to claim a point for the Algerians.

Gor Mahia and Alger head the pool with eight points, followed by Rayon (four) and Young Africans (one).

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