Kenya's Gor Mahia suffered a 1-0 defeat to Algerian club NA Hussein Dey in a Confederation Cup Group D clash, with a controversial goal disallowed despite appearing legitimate.
The match, played on Sunday, saw Ugandan defender Shafik Batambuze head in a corner in the 59th minute, only for the referee to rule the goal invalid due to a foul on Hussein Dey goalkeeper Gaya Merbah. The Algerian side secured victory through Abderrahmane Yousfi's ninth-minute strike.
In other Group D action, Egyptian club Zamalek climbed the standings with a 1-0 win at Angola's Petro Atletico, thanks to Moroccan forward Hamid Ahaddad's 27th-minute goal. Meanwhile, Congolese side AS Otoho Oyo edged Moroccan Hassania Agadir 1-0 in Owando, with Arci Saint Thibault Biassadila scoring the decisive goal.
The group's dynamics remained tight, with Moroccan clubs dominating the table. Raja Casablanca's 0-0 draw with Renaissance Berkane kept their slim chances alive, while Tunisian coach Roger Lemerre, 77, guided Etoile Sahel to a 2-0 win over Nigeria's Enugu Rangers. Lemerre, who won the 2000 European Championship with France and 2004 Africa Cup with Tunisia, has revitalized Etoile's campaign after early struggles.
Standings in Group A show Berkane with eight points, Otoho five, Hassania Agadir four, and Raja three. For Gor Mahia, the loss complicates their path to the quarterfinals, requiring favorable results in their remaining fixtures.
