Matchday three is complete at the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup group stage with a couple of clubs establishing themselves as major contenders to win the competition. In a group with three North African clubs, Moroccan club ASFAR remained at the top of Group C with a 2-0 victory over Egypt’s Future FC in Rabat. 20-year-old forward Igamane Hamza scored to make it six goals in his last four matches in all competitions, moving ASFAR two points clear of second placed Pyramids FC after the Cairo club defeated Togo’s ASKO Kara 1-0.

USM Alger is another major challenger with big aspirations. With a vocal group of supporters behind the club on Sunday, USMA put an end to the impressive run of South African club Marumo Gallants with a 2-0 victory in Algiers. The goals came courtesy of two members of Algeria’s team from the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Abderrahmane Meziane and Zinedine Belaïd. USMA are one point clear of Gallants ahead of their return matchup in South Africa and four points ahead of third placed Saint-Éloi Lupopo after the Congolese club defeated Libya’s Al Akhdar 1-0.

North African dominance is the continuing theme in Group D as well after US Monastir went down to Lubumbashi and defeated TP Mazembe 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Boubacar Traoré and Zied Aloui. USM have seven points putting the Tunisian club four points ahead of Mazembe and three points clear of Tanzania’s Young Africans who conceded late to draw Real Bamako 1-1 in the Malian capital.

Wrapping things up is Group B where a surprise leader emerged in Nigeria’s Rivers United. The Pride of Rivers State followed up their 3-0 home victory last week against ASEC Mimosas with a 1-0 win in Angola against DC Motema Pembe of the DRC despite the first half sending off of Gideon Duru. Rivers United are two points ahead of Ivory Coast’s ASEC Mimosas who defeated Diables Noirs of the Republic of Congo to move level with the Congolese club on four points.

Highlights from six of Sunday’s matches are below following the full list of scores and tables in each group.

Group A

USM Alger (ALG) 2-0 Marumo Gallants (RSA)

St. Éloi Lupopo (DRC) 1-0 Al Akhdar (LBY)

Group B

ASEC Mimosas (CIV) 2-0 Diables Noirs (CON)

DC Motema Pembe (DRC) 0-1 Rivers United (NGA)

Group C

Pyramids FC (EGY) 1-0 ASKO Kara (TOG)

ASFAR (MAR) 2-0 Future FC (EGY)

Group D

TP Mazembe (DRC) 0-2 US Monastir (TUN)

Real Bamako (MLI) 1-1 Young Africans (TZA)

ASFAR 2-0 Future FC

USM Alger 2-0 Marumo Gallants

Real Bamako 1-1 Young Africans

ASEC Mimosas 2-0 Diables Noirs

TP Mazembe 0-2 US Monastir