Sfaxien first to qualify for group place

Johannesburg: CS Sfaxien of Tunisia became the first qualifiers for the CAF Confederation Cup group phase after defeating RC Kadiogo of Burkina Faso 2-0 at home Friday. The success coupled with a 2-1 away win last weekend gave the record three-time winners of the second-tier African club competition a 4-1 aggregate triumph. Maher Hannachi nodded Sfaxien in front after five minutes in industrial city Sfax on the Mediterranean coast.

Kadiogo recovered well to dominate the opening half without converting several good scoring chances. Sfaxien won the Confederation Cup — the African equivalent of the Europa League — in 2007, 2008 and 2013 and were runners-up in 2010.