AmaZulu End CAFCL With Draw In Guinea

AmaZulu played to a 1-1 draw with Horoya AC in their final CAF Champions League group stages match at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conaky, Guinea.

It was AmaZulu’s first match since the departure of Benni McCarthy, and although interim coach Brandon Truter travelled with the team, he was not on the bench for this fixture, with Vasili Manousakis in charge.

The result means AmaZulu finish third in Group B, and ends an impressive debut in the CAFCL.

Horoya 1-1 AmaZulu

After a brief spell where the home team looked to control proceedings, the first shot of the game fell to the visitors, but Tshephang Moremi shot wide in the 12th minute.

Horoya had a few dangerous attacks into the Usuthu eighteen yard area but were unable to get shots off at Jean-Noel Amonome’s goal. Meanwhile, at the other end, Thabo Qalinge’s shot from an acute angle in the 26th minute was saved by Camara Moussa.

Fode Camara tried from range in the 38th minute, but it flew into the stands. Qalinge’s long-range effort three minutes later rolled wide of goal. 

Horoya though finally made their dominance count when they grabbed the lead just before half-time, as they won the ball in Usuthu’s half, and Dramane Nikiema’s clinical shot left Amonome with no chance. 1-0 to the home team at the break.

AmaZulu were level three minutes into the second half, after a good run from Qalinge into the box, his attempt at a cross was deflected by a Salif Coulibaly header into the net for an own goal.

Pape N’diaye shot over in the 64th minute, but chances in the final third were still few and far between. But it was a much improved second half from Usuthu.

Moussa had to make two big saves in the 79th minute, first from substitute Lehlohonolo Majoro, and again on the rebound from Qalinge.

AmaZulu had a late chance in stoppage time, but Sandile Khumalo’s header from a Qalinge corner went just over the goal.

And in the end it finished 1-1 in this deadrubber, with Raja Casablanca and ES Setif having already sealed their qualification from the group in the last round.