CAF Confederation Cup defending champions RS Berkane were booted out of this season’s competition following 1-0 aggregate loss to US Monastir.
In the first leg of the playoff, Monastir beat Berkane 1-0 before recording a 0-0 draw in the return leg in Morocco on Wednesday.
Berkane, who were missing inspirational defender Issoufou Dayo through suspension and hit the woodwork twice in the first half, came out stronger after the interval but failed to utilize the chances that came to their way.
Elsewhere, DR Congo giants TP Mazembe advanced to the Confederation Cup group stage after a 3-0 aggregate victory over Royal AM of South Africa.
Royal AM had lost 2-0 Mazembe in the first leg in Kinshasa over the weekend, in a game the club boss Shauwn Mkhize described as an atrocious experience.
In Durban, the Thwihli Thwahla needed three unanswered goals but they let themselves down as Mazembe’s marksman, Bossu Adam punished them at the stroke of the halftime.
Another South African side, Cape Town City FC also bowed out of the competition following a stunning last minute goal handed USM Alger a 1-0 win at the Stade du 8 Mai 1945 in Setif.
Both sides had played to a goalless draw in the first leg in Cape Town, and the second leg proved to be a controversial encounter,as City were denied a clear penalty in the first stanza of the match.
Marumo Gallants will be the sole South Africa representatives in Confederation Cup group stages as they won 3-0 at home to Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.
Former African champions Club Africain were beaten 1-0 by visiting Yanga from Tanzania. The Tunisians had settled for a goalless draw away in Dar es Salaam but they failed to shine at their backyard.
Burkina Faso international Stephane Aziz Ki scored the all important goal in the 79th minute to qualify Yanga to the group stages of the competition.
Egyptian representatives in the Confederation Cup Pyramids FC and Future FC also secured their spot in Confederation group stages after victories against Nigelec and Primeiro de Agosto respectively.
Pyramids beat Nigelec 3-0 in the return leg to go through to the next round on 3-1 aggregate.The goals on Wednesday came from Moroccan midfielder Walid El-Karti, Abdallah El-Saed and South African striker Fagrie Lakay.
Future FC had earned a 1-1 draw away in the first leg but their mission became tricky as they also played to a similar scoreline in the return leg in Cairo on Wednesday.
However the gheroics of their outstanding goalkeeper Mahmoud Abdel-Rehim steered the side to the next round as he saved three penalties three penalties lifting Future FC to the Group stage with 3-2 win.
