Nigeria
A Saifeldin Bakhit hat-trick earned Al Merrikh of Sudan a 3-0 midweek victory over Enyimba of Nigeria in the biggest upset of the CAF Champions League last 32 first legs.
While Sudanese clubs are often formidable at home in sauna-like conditions, even the most partisan supporters of the club could not have envisioned such a wide winning margin.
History offers Enyimba a glimmer of hope, though, as Simba of Tanzania lost by four goals at home to Mufulira Wanderers of Zambia in 1979 only to win the return match by five goals. Sudanese international Bakhit struck early and late in the opening half and completed his treble in the final minute of regulation time in Omdurman.
The triumph was a welcome change of Champions League fortunes for Merrikh, who made preliminary round exits in the last three editions. They are the only Sudanese club to win a CAF competition, edging Bendel United of Nigeria 1-0 on aggregate in the 1989 African Cup Winners Cup final.—AFP
