The 'Messi' of East Africa scored Sunday to give Azam of Tanzania a 2-1 victory over star-studded Esperance of Tunisia in a CAF Confederation Cup last 16 first leg.

Ramadhan Singano, whose skills win him favourable public and media comparisons with Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, struck the 69th-minute winner in Dar es Salaam.

Farid Mussa had equalised just one minute before for the ice cream company club, who are chasing a first play-offs appearance.

Overall last 16 winners will be matched with CAF Champions League last 16 losers over two legs next month for eight group slots in the second-tier African club competition.

Esperance have won all the CAF club competitions except the Confederation Cup and appear the strongest of the 16 survivors from two qualifying rounds.

Haythem Jouini gave the Tunis-based 'Blood and Gold' a 33rd-minute lead they retained until conceding twice within 60 seconds.

Despite the loss, twice African champions Esperance are favoured to win the return match in Rades on April 19 or 20 and the tie.

Thirty-seven-year-old Arsenio Cabungula scored his fifth goal of the campaign to help Sagrada Esperanca of Angola win 2-1 in Congo Brazzaville against V Club Mokanda.

Samuel Antonio Da Silva was the other scorer for the club from remote mining town Dundo, who led 1-0 in Atlantic oil hub Pointe-Noire and doubled their advantage through Cabungula before conceding a late goal.

Mounana of Gabon upset ENPPI of Egypt 2-0 in Libreville through a goal in each half from Rick Martel Allogho Mba and Ilambe Biyeme, who converted a penalty.

Medeama of Ghana forced a 0-0 draw away to Al Ahly Shendy of Sudan and boosted chances of a second play-offs appearance within three seasons.

Winners Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko contested an all-Ghana first Confederation Cup final in 2004, but no club from the West African state has come close to emulating that feat.

FUS Rabat of Morocco were the most impressive first leg winners, trouncing Villa of Uganda 7-0 Friday with seven players getting on the scoresheet.

The first and last goals were particularly memorable with Mourad Batna drilling a long-range free-kick into the net and Mohamed Fouzair dribbling past four opponents to complete the rout.

Goals were much scarcer Saturday with three matches producing only three.

CS Constantine of Algeria edged Misr Elmaqasah of Egypt 1-0, Mouloudia Oran of Algeria were held 0-0 by Kawkab Marrakech of Morocco and Stade Gabesien of Tunisia forced a 1-1 draw at Zanaco of Zambia.