An Esperance record of never having failed to reach the pool phase of the leading African Football Confederation club

competition appeared in jeopardy when they fell behind in the second half against Sudanese visitors Al-Hilal.

The goal by Sudan World Cup striker Haitham Tambal after 59 minutes put his team 3-0 ahead on aggregate after a shock two goal, first leg victory in the stifling heat of Omdurman.

Esperance responded by scoring five goals in a 22-minute blitz for a 5-1 victory that took them into the final qualifying round for the $3.5 million group stage of a championship won by Enyimba of Nigeria for the last two years.

Kamel Zaiem triggered the recovery with a 68th-minute equaliser, but the 'Blood and Gold' had to wait until three minutes from full-time before Moyin Chaabani hit the fourth Esperance goal that put them ahead on aggregate.

Chiefs had a much gentler passage, outclassing USJF Ravinala of Madagascar 4-1 in the north-west town of Rustenburg with star Zambian predator Collins Mbesuma scoring twice during the first half.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Chiefs were rarely under pressure at home, but will be underdogs against vastly more

experienced Esperance, who reached the final twice and semifinals three times in six previous Champions League appearances.

Esperance host the first leg at the 45,000-seat Al-Menzah Stadium in Tunis over the weekend of April 8-10 with the return match at an undisclosed South African venue two weeks later.

Enyimba, seeking a record third consecutive title, were ahead within 60 seconds of the kickoff at home to Simba of Tanzania and romped to a 4-0 win after a drawn first leg.

Prince Olomu was first to score in the south-east town of Aba followed by injury prone Ghanaian Joetex Frimpong, Yusuf Mohammed from the penalty spot, and Mutiu Adegoke, one of several newcomers to the 2004 trophy-winning squad.

The Nigerians face Red Arrows in the third round after the Zambian air force club edged CAPS United of Zimbabwe 2-1 in a Southern Africa showdown settled by a late second half goal from Clifford Katuka.

Stanley Banda put Arrows ahead after 41 minutes at Independence Stadium in Lusaka and Cephas Chimedza levelled on the stroke of half-time for CAPS, who managed only a 1-1 draw in Harare.

Dolphin completed a Nigerian double despite losing 2-1 to Hearts of Oak of Ghana in Accra. Prince Tagoe scored twice within three minutes as the match entered the closing stages before Kelechi Osunwa reduced arrears.

The tie was effectively settled two weeks ago when Dolphin triumphed 4-0 at home against the 2004 African Confederation Cup winners, who have been rocked by debt-induced problems.

A disastrous weekend for Ghana was completed by the exit of Asante Kotoko, the team Hearts beat in the Confederation Cup final.

A one goal, first leg lead proved insufficient for the 'Porcupine Warriors' as they fell 2-0 to FAR Rabat in Morocco.

Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, runners-up to Enyimba last year, scored in first half stoppage time to set up a 3-1 home win over AS Douanes of Senegal after a goalless first leg.

Yassine Chikhaoui broke the deadlock, Imed Mhedhebi converted a penalty on the hour mark and Mohamed Jedidi added a third before Yare Fall snatched an injury time consolation goal.