African debutants Remo Stars of Nigeria pulled off a shock 1-1 preliminary round first leg draw at former CAF Confederation Cup winners FAR Rabat in Morocco on Sunday.
Cape Verde international Diney Borges gave the 2005 winners of the second-tier African club competition a first-half lead.
But Olamilekan Adebayo levelled early in the second half for Remo, who qualified for the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League by finished third in Nigeria last season.
FAR laid siege to Stars’ goalmouth as the second half progressed, seeking to regain the lead, but the visitors held on for an unexpected draw.
The teams meet again next weekend with the aggregate winners facing Anglogold Ashanti Golden Boys of Guinea or Nouakchott Kings of Mauritania in a last-32 tie during October.
FAR are among six winners of African competitions competing this season in the qualifying phase of the Confederation Cup.
The others – title-holders Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, Tunisian sides Club Africain and CS Sfaxien, Hearts of Oak of Ghana and DC Motema Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo – received byes to the round of 32.
Berkane were impressive 2-0 winners over Wydad Casablanca in an all-Moroccan CAF Super Cup match in Rabat on Saturday and are seeking a third Confederation Cup title in four seasons.
Kwara United completed a good day for Nigerian challengers with a 3-0 victory over AS Douanes of Niger in Lagos.
United were quick out of the blocks with Paul Samson scoring in the fifth minute and Wasiu Jimoh bagged a brace before half-time, including a penalty.
Royal AM, another team debuting in Africa after a third-place finish in South Africa, drew 0-0 away to Mbabane Highlanders of Eswatini in Lobamba.
After a mixed start to the domestic season with four victories and four defeats in league and cup matches, it was a satisfactory outcome for Royal, the Durban club bankrolled by TV personality and businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize.
The other South African contenders, Marumo Gallants, received a bye to the second qualifying round.
AFP
