Aubrey Sumbuleta BBC Sport, Blantyre

Malawi's Bakili Bullets lost to Etoile Sahel of Tunisia

Tunisia's Etoile Sahel scored a last-gasp winner as they began their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win over Bakili Bullets of Malawi in Blantyre on Saturday.

Etoile's Nigerian substitute Emeka Okpara scored in injury time to claim all three points in the first Group A game of the Champions League.

Okpara picked up a pass on the edge of the area and fired past Bullets goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi to send almost 30,000 fans in the Chichiri stadium into a cathedral-like silence.

It was a tight game for the entire 90 minutes as neither side was able to dominate proceedings.

The home team were kept in the game by some brilliant saves from goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi and heroics from captain Peter Mponda in defence.

Etoile keeper Ejibe Austin Emachuku was also made to earn his money as he denied Bullets' Fischer Kondowe, Wisdom Ndlovu and Jimmy Zakazaka.

After the match, Bullets coach Kinnah Phiri was upset with his side for giving away a late goal but admitted that as newcomers, they have a lot to learn.

"Football is a long-term learning process and next time we will do well," he told BBC Sport.

His opposite number Bernard Simondi said that it had been a tough game.

"To come to Malawi and play a strange team like the Bullets and score a goal is all we needed," he said.

Next up for Etoile is the home match against Africa Sports of the Ivory Coast, while Bakili Bullets have a trip to Nigeria, and a clash with champions Enyimba, to look forward to.

The next round of matches in Group A are set to take place on 25 July.