AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015 - GROUP STAGE - 1st MATCHES - so far

AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2015

Etoile du Sahel carved out a narrow 1:0 win over Stade Malien in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse of Friday night as the African Confederation Cup group phase got underway.

Striker Baghdad Boundjah scored the goal after 69 minutes for the hosts.

Stade Malien went down to ten men late in the game after Idrissa Traore was sent off for a second yellow, with Malien's goalkeeper Djigui Diarra making some important saves to keep the score at 1:0.

Etoile du Sahel are one of five former African champions featuring in the group stage of the tournament.

Also drawn in Group A are current Confederation Cup holders Al Ahly of Egypt and Tunisians Esperance.

Former African champions Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Egypt's Zamalek are in Group B with Congo's AC Leopards and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

CS Sfaxien, AC Leopards and Stade Malien are all former Confederation Cup winners.