African Champions League 2014 - GROUP STAGE - 4Th MATCHES - Troussier secures a victory in first game as Sfaxien coach

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Group A    
• 27 July: Vita Club vs El Hilal -:-
• 27 July: Zamalek vs TP Mazembe -:-
Group B
• 25 July: Al-Ahly Benghazi vs Entente Setif 0:2
• 26 July: Sfaxien vs Esperance 1:0

French coach Philippe Troussier made a winning return to African football after a six-year absence when he led CS Sfaxien to a 1:0 win over fellow Tunisians Esperance in their African Champions League Group B match.

Midfielder Mohamed Moncer scored the only goal on 77 minutes from long range to keep alive Sfaxien's semi-final hopes. 

They are now one point behind group leaders Entente Setif who beat Al Ahly-Benghazi on Friday. 

The result from Sfax will be even sweeter for Troussier as it came against Sfaxien's great rivals.

Troussier succeeds out-of-contract Hammadi Daou, who spent a short time in charge when Dutch coach Ruud Krol moved to Esperance.

Since quitting as Morocco coach in 2008 just weeks after taking over, the 'White Witchdoctor' has worked with Japanese and Chinese clubs.

But the desire to be close to his Rabat-based family led 59-year-old Troussier to sign a two-contract with the four-time Confederation of African Football title winners.

Algerians Entente Setif moved closer to a first African Champions League semi-finals appearance by defeating Libyans Al-Ahly Benghazi 2:0 on Friday.

El-Hedi Belameiri scored for Setif after 18 minutes with Sofiane Younis claiming the other goal in stoppage time.

Belameiri notched his sixth Champions League goal this season with a low shot across goalkeeper Wissem El-Boudi from just inside the penalty area.

Zimbabwe-born Edward Sadomba wasted several chances for Ahly before Younis struck on 93 minutes with a looping header off a Lyes Boukria cross.

Ongoing lawlessness in Libya means Benghazi must continue to play 'home' fixtures in neighbouring Tunisia.

Setif are one point clear of Sfaxien and four points ahead of Benghazi in Group B with Esperance bottom, a further point behind.

Group A is tight with four-time champions TP Mazembe on six points, fellow Democratic Republic of Congo club Vita and Sudanese Al-Hilal on four and Egyptians Zamalek on three.

There could be a dramatic swing with Zamalek going from the bottom to the top if they defeat Mazembe in Alexandria and Vita and Hilal draw in Kinshasa.

Both those matches are on Sunday.

Mazembe pipped Zamalek 1:0 last month in a bad-tempered clash that led to a three-match ban for visiting striker Dominique da Silva, who assaulted the referee.

"We have three group matches to play - two at home - and positive results in all of them will guarantee us a semi-finals place," stressed Zamalek coach Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam.

A concern for Brazil-born Hilal coach Paulo Campos will be that the Omdurman club have not won away in 13 group games spanning eight years.