Club African’s CAF Champions League campaign came to an end on Saturday despite beating Ismaily 1-0 in a Group C match played at the Stade Olympique de Radès in the Tunisian city of Rades.
The Algerian side came into the match needing a convincing win to progress to the knockout stages of the competition on a head to head but Victor Zvunka’s men wasted a plethora of chances against a modest Ismaily side.
While Africain played attacking football for most parts, Ismaily, who knew that they were playing for pride as they were already out the competition, sat back and tried to catch the Tunisians on the counter-attack.
Club Africain will have to wait for next season to have another shot at this continental competition as they end the group stages sitting third: five-time champions TP Mazembe are first, CS Constantine second and Ismaily at the bottom.
The first chance of the match fell for Yassine Chamakhi after he received the ball from Yahya in the 19th minute, but his weak shot from outside the penalty box could not trouble the visiting goalkeeper Mohamed El Sayed.
In the 23rd minute, Zouheir Dhaouadi took a long-range attempt from outside the area after possession turned over but missed the target.
More was to come from the hosts as El Sayed pushed Bassirou Campaore’s header over the bar and then watched Ghazi Ayadi’s speculative effort go wide.
Ali Abdi was working hard to give his side the edge and he almost got a reward in the 36th minute when he beat Mzimela with an effort from a central position.
The visiting side had the perfect opportunity to bring parity to the match just two minutes into the second period but Karim Bambo’s attempt went a few centimeters wide of the goalmouth with the Africain keeper well beaten.
In the second half, aside from the forced changes in the first half, both sides returned unchanged.
Both sides started slowly with their build-up yielding no positive results. Africain made their little momentum almost count when Wissem Ben Yahya lashed his effort wide after good work from Iffa.
Ismaily struggled to get out of first gear, with limited opportunities in front of goal with their offensive figures providing no spark whatsoever.
Africain were then awarded a penalty in the 75th minute which was easily converted Ghazi Ayadi.
After that, however, it was a case of throwing all 10 men behind the ball as Africain tried to protect their lead while weathering attack after attack from Ismaily.
Second half substitute Ben Shilongo was particularly threatening for Africain, and in the 77th minute, Aymen Mathlouthi displayed his acrobatics to deny Shilongo when he flung himself across his goal to tip a powerful 25-yard shot around the post.
Six minutes later they struck, but this time the reflexes of Mathlouthi were called into question, yet again he passed with flying colors as he denied Shilongo from just inside the box with a low save to his left.
Try as they might the Ismaily attack could not break down a stubborn Africain defense who held on for a slim 1-0 win.
In the other Group C match, Mazembe beat Constantine 2-0 to advance alongside the Algerians into the next round.
Following the results, Mazembe sit top of the group with 11 points, followed by Constantine and Club Africain with 10, but the Algerian side are ahead on goal difference. Meanwhile, Ismaily sit bottom with two points only from six games.
How they lined up:
Club Africain Starting XI: Aymen Mathlouthi (GK), Hamza Agrebi, Fakhreddine Jaziri, Bilel Iffa, Ali Abdi, Wissem Ben Yahya, Ghazi Ayadi, Zouheir Dhaouadi, Bilel Khefifi, Yassine Chamakh, Bassirou Campaore
Ismaily SC Starting XI: Mohamed El Sayed (GK), Ahmed Ayman, Mohamed Hashem, Richard Baffour, Tarek Taha, Mohamed Eldar ,Mahmoud Dunga, Karim Bambo, Mohamed Sadek, Abderahman Magdy, Marshal Onoriode Odah
