Esperance Held by Horoya in CAF Champions League Opener

Defending champions Esperance de Tunis played out to a 1-1 draw with Horoya AC in their CAF Champions’ League group stage opener at the Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry on Friday.
The hosts dominated possession from the first whistle and fired the first warning shots, with Boniface Haba forcing a save from Rami Jeridi in the second minute, and Mensah doing the same 13 minutes later.
Esperance were always looking to catch the HAC on the counter and almost succeeded in the 16th minute as Ghilane Chalali got the better of Breffo Mensah, only for the striker to send his shot straight at Germain Berthe.
On the half hour mark‚ Anice Badri hit a wild effort from a tight angle well off target and eight minutes later centre back Chamseddine Dhaouadi rose unchallenged to head a free kick narrowly wide.
Simon Bolaji should’ve given Horoya the lead nine minutes before the break, but the midfielder failed to beat Jeridi in a one-on-one situation as he fired his effort over the target.
After the break‚ Esperance should have gone ahead catching Horoya not yet switched back on as Badri made an opportunity for Tayed Meziani‚ who scuffed at his shot and never tested Berthe.
Horoya took the lead in the 67th minute when Oncasey Mandela capitalised on some hesitant defending and placed a nice header past Esperance goalkeeper Jeridi.
The defending champions nearly caught the host on the break in the 70th minute, but Berthe was on hand to deny Chalali’s strike at goal.
With time running out, the clash became a stop-start affair with Horoya attempting to soak up every minute as fatigue began to set in.
Mezdi Traoui’s charges were building patiently going forward with 10 minutes to play while Horoya were defending with numbers behind the ball, with the hope of catching the home side on the counter.
In the 88th minute Paye Camara tried to score directly from a free kick on the edge of the area, but his shot flew just over.
But it wasn’t to be for the Guineans, as Badri pounced on a ball just inside the area and hit it with his right foot past Berthe to make it 1-1.