The 2019–2020 CAF Champions League group stage began in emphatic fashion this weekend, with several of Africa’s traditional powerhouses immediately asserting their dominance. Clubs such as TP Mazembe, Mamelodi Sundowns, and reigning champions Espérance de Tunis all delivered strong performances, sending an early message to their rivals as the race for continental glory got underway.
In Lubumbashi, TP Mazembe showcased their experience and firepower against Egyptian giants Zamalek. After a balanced first half, the Congolese side stepped up the tempo following the break and eventually cruised to a convincing 3–0 victory. Jackson Muleka stole the spotlight with a brace, while veteran captain Trésor Mputu added another goal to underline his continued importance to the team. The comfortable win placed Mazembe in an ideal position from the outset and reinforced their status as one of the tournament favorites.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated clash in Casablanca lived up to expectations as Espérance de Tunis traveled to face Raja Casablanca in front of a passionate crowd. Despite the hostile atmosphere, the defending champions demonstrated composure and efficiency. Goals from Anice Badri and Ibrahim Ouattara secured a 2–0 win for the Tunisian side, confirming their dominance and giving them a perfect start away from home. The result highlighted Espérance’s experience in managing big occasions and strengthened their ambition to retain the title.
South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns were equally impressive. Hosting Petro Atlético, the Brazilians controlled proceedings from start to finish and claimed a clear 3–0 victory. Mauricio Affonso opened the scoring before Motjeka Madisha and Sphelele Mkhulise added further goals to seal the win. Sundowns’ fluid attacking play and defensive solidity made them one of the standout teams of the opening round.
Not all favorites enjoyed success, however. In Radès, Al Ahly stumbled in their first outing against Étoile du Sahel. The Tunisian side capitalized on home advantage, with Yassine Chikhaoui scoring the only goal of the match to hand the Egyptians a narrow 1–0 defeat. It was a disappointing start for the record African champions, who will now be under pressure to respond quickly in the upcoming fixtures.
Elsewhere, JS Kabylie edged AS Vita Club 1–0 in a tightly contested encounter thanks to a decisive strike from Toufik Addadi. In the same group, USM Alger and Wydad Casablanca shared the spoils in a 1–1 draw, while Primeiro de Agosto and ZESCO United also played out a stalemate. Al Hilal secured a 2–1 win over FC Platinum to round off the action.
Overall, the first matchday delivered excitement, surprises, and strong statements from several contenders, setting the stage for an intense and competitive group phase.
