Playing in different Cairo stadiums, holders Ahly beat Stade Abidjan of Ivory Coast 4-2 in Group C and Pyramids hammered Sagrada Esperanca of Angola 5-1 in Group D. The eight-match opening round in the premier African club competition also delivered several surprises with Al Hilal of Sudan and Orlando Pirates of South Africa winning away matches. Hilal, who must play all their matches outside Sudan because of a civil war, defeated Young Africans of Tanzania 2-0 in Group A in Dar es Salaam.
