Pyramids won their game 1-0 against El Merreikh Bentiu while Zamalek needed a last-minute goal from substitute Nasser Mansi to defeat Rwanda’s APR FC in Kigali.
Saber’s goal for Pyramids came in the 32nd minute to give the Rulani Mokwena side a slim advantage heading into the return leg in a fortnight.
Pyramids reduced to 10 men
Pyramids finished the game with 10 men after Mahmoud Marei was sent off in the 89th minute after receiving a second yellow card.
Merei will thus miss the return leg alongside Iyad Al-Asqalani, who was cautioned twice during Pyramids’ first preliminary round fixtures against Kenya’s Gor Mahia.
Pyramids, who eliminated Gor Mahia 7-1 on aggregate to progress to this stage, were not at their best against the Sudanese outfit as they struggled to make their chances count.
Pyramids will host the return encounter at the Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on October 24th, seeking to protect their lead and secure a place among the final 16 clubs in the group stage.
The winners of both ties will advance to the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition, which is scheduled to begin at the end of November.
For Zamalek, they were forced to wait until the 90th minute before breaking down a resilient APR FC at Amahoro Stadium.
Zamalek, who reached this stage after defeating Djibouti’s AS Port 6-1 on aggregate, scored through Nasser Mansi to silence APR supporters.
Despite dominating large portions of the contest and creating several promising opportunities, APR were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal and a costly lapse in concentration at the death.
Zamalek will now enjoy the slim advantage when they host APR in the return leg. APR progressed following a 3-1 aggregate victory over Aigles du Congo, overturning a first-leg deficit with a 3-0 home win.
Zamalek have won five Champions League titles, two CAF Confederation Cup titles, five CAF Super Cup titles and one African Cup Winners' Cup title. It is also the first Egyptian team ever to win the CAF Super Cup in 1994.
In other matches on Saturday, October 17th, Simba SC of Tanzania will face Equatorial Guinea’s FC 15 de Agosto. Simba booked their place in the second preliminary round after eliminating Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers 7-1 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, FC 15 de Agosto advanced after defeating Comoros side Fomboni FC 1-0 in the second leg, completing a 5-0 aggregate victory after winning the first meeting 4-0.
Ahead of the game, Simba have recorded convincing results in recent matches, beating Azam FC 2-0, Mighty Wanderers 6-1 and Young Africans 2-1 before Tuesday’s emphatic 6-1 victory over Mashujaa.
CAF Champions League fixtures;
Saturday, October 17th
· CFFA (Madagascar) vs Young Africans (Tanzania)
· African Stars (Namibia) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
· TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs Club Africain (Tunisia)
· 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)
· San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire) vs FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
Sunday, October 18th
· Rangers International (Nigeria) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
· Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) vs Petro Atlético (Angola)
· Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia) vs Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)
· Wiliete (Angola) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
· Horoya AC (Guinea) vs Al-Merreikh (Sudan)
· Al-Swehly (Libya) vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
· Teungueth FC (Senegal) vs Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)
· Maghreb Fès (Morocco) vs ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
