Hermann Kouao scored twice in two minutes to earn Egyptians Smouha a 3-2 triumph over Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan at the weekend in a CAF Champions League matchday 1 thriller.

Tetouan raced into a two-goal lead after just 11 minutes of the Group A clash in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

But Smouha halved the deficit midway through the second half before Ivorian Kouao struck on 78 and 79 minutes for a memorable victory.

The clash of two group debutants completed the first series of mini-league matches in the marquee African club football competition.

Four-time champions TP Mazembe were surprisingly held 0-0 in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Sudanese El-Hilal in the other Group A game.

Title-holders Entente Setif slumped 2-1 at home against fellow Algerians USM Alger in the main Group B attraction.

Sudanese El-Merreikh triumphed 2-0 at home to Algerians Mouloudia El-Eulma in the same section.

Each club play their three opponents at home and away and group winners and runners-up advance to the semi-finals of a competition offering a $1.5 million (1.35 million euros) first prize.

Smouha and Tetouan were not expected to reach the eight-club group stage of the Champions League.

The Egyptians upset former CAF title winners Enyimba of Nigeria and Congo’s AC Leopards in the qualifiers.

Nigerians Kano Pillars and record 19 CAF title winners Egyptians Al-Ahly were among the victims of Tetouan.

Senegalese Mourtada Fall put the Moroccan outfit ahead after six minutes of a match staged behind closed doors because of ongoing post-Arab Spring security concerns.

But his tap-in goal was controversial with suspicions of offside and handball.

There was no doubt over the second goal, though, as Ahmed Jahouh gave goalkeeper El-Mahdi Soliman no chance with a sizzling long-range shot.

The visitors were dominant and could have doubled their two-goal advantage by half-time against their rattled rivals.

Trailing 2-0 was hard for Smouha to digest as they had not conceded a goal at home in qualifiers against Libyans Al-Ahly Tripoli, Enyimba and Leopards.

A half-time tongue-lashing from Smouha coach Mimi Abdel-Razak — standing in for recently-sacked Helmy Toulan — and smart substitutions turned the tide.

A weak Salah Amin shot found the net before Kouao levelled from close range, then won the game with a far-post header off a millimetre-perfect cross.

Hilal came close to winning away in the group stage for the first time with veteran Mazembe goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba making several acrobatic late saves.

The best chance for the Congolese came on 75 minutes in mining city Lubumbashi when unmarked Ivorian Roger Assale headed wide from point-blank range.

Matchday 2 fixtures are scheduled for July 10-12.