Phiri Jnr makes CAF Club Champions League debut

 Flames midfielder Gerald Phiri Jnr made his CAF Champions League debut on Friday as his Sudanese club Al-Hilal Omdurman lost 1-0 to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in South Africa.

The former Baroka FC player was in the starting XI for Hilal, a club he joined late last year, in the Group A clash monitored on SuperSport.

The South Africans after a passive start, went ahead in the eighth minute when Themba Zwane picked up a loose pass to slot in from close-range.

Hilal wanted to eagerly get back in the contest and saw a high-pressing game.

They worked hard for an equaliser with Phiri Jnr involved in most of the action from midfield.

They had a chance from former Cape Town City player Abdul Jeleel Ajagun midway through the first half, but could not get the equaliser.

They also had a goal disallowed in stoppage time after Ahmed

headed home a cross from a set-piece but the whistle had already been blown for a foul, as Sundowns held on to clinch maximum points.

Phiri Jnr said he was excited to play in his debut CAF Champions League match, but rued the loss.

He said: “But we have the home leg to play. I believe we can bounce back.”

Phiri moved to Zimbabwe in 2013 to join CAPS United and after two seasons crossed over to South Africa when he was signed by Bidvest Wits.

However, he was loaned to Botswana’s Township Rollers the same season and Bidvest went on to loan him again to Platinum Stars in the 2016-2018 season.

Ajax Cape Town signed him permanently in 2019, but ended up selling him to Baroka the same season where he stayed until late last year.

He was part of the Flames squad at 2021 Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations.

Phiri Jnr retired from the national team after he was dropped from the initial squad, but reversed the decision after he was recalled.n