Smouha, an unfancied and crisis-hit Egyptian side, staged a remarkable comeback on a dream African Champions League group-stage debut to claim a 3-2 home win over Morocco’s Moghreb Tetouan after going two down in the early stages.
The Alexandria-based club, playing in an almost empty stadium due to a lengthy crowd ban in Egyptian football, seemed destined for an embarrassing defeat when a controversial goal from Mourtada Fall and a stunning strike from Ahmed Jahouh put Tetouan 2-0 up after 12 minutes.
But Ivorian substitute Hermann Kouao completed an extraordinary comeback when he netted twice in two minutes after Salah Amin had narrowed the gap six minutes past the hour mark as Smouha continued their fairytale run in Africa’s elite club competition.
The modest club, who defied the odds to finish as runners up in the Egyptian Premier League last season, sacked coach Helmi Toulan a few days before hosting Tetouan after a string of poor results left them flirting with relegation.
They lead Group A with three points after four-time winners TP Mazembe of the DR Congo were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Sudanese giants El Hilal earlier on Sunday.
Smouha overcame some illustrious opponents in the preliminary rounds, defeating Libya’s Ahli Tripoli, two-time winners Enyimba of Nigeria and Congo’s AC Leopards.
Watch the goals here:
