TP Mazembe are the current holders of the African Champions League

Some of the continent's top clubs struggled in their first leg game in the first round of the 2010 African Champions League.

On Sunday 1988 African Champions Entente Setif of Algeria lost 3-2 in Congo to Diables Noirs.

Tunisia's Club Africain, who won the title in 1991, scored a vital away goal in the last minute but they also lost away from home with Niger's Sahel emerging 2-1 winners.

Three times former champions Raja Casablanca of Morocco bucked the trend on Sunday though, with an impressive 3-1 away win over Fello Star of Guinea.

Omar Madji, Yacine Salhi and Sire Pape all scored for the visitors before an injury time consolation from Fello Star's Alpha Diallo at the end of the match.

And SuperSport United of South Africa won by a similar score line over Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.

The South African Champions took the lead through Tebogo Langerman after just eight minutes before goals from Thabo Mongalo and Dario Monteiro gave them a comfortable lead.

Swallows pulled a late goal back through Lwazi Maziya six minutes from time.

On Saturday several other former champions also failed to win with Ismaili of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia and South Africa's Orlando Pirates all held to draws while Asante Kotoko lost their match.

Ismaili were held to a goalless draw by Kenyan debutants Sofapaka in Nairobi.

Sierra Leone's East End Lions let slip a two goal lead against Esperance in Freetown.

Issa Kamara opened the scoring for the hosts in the 25th minute before captain Mohamed 'Daddy Drogba' Kabia increased the lead five minutes later.

But the Tunisians re-organised quickly and scored two goals at the end of the first half to earn the draw.

Khaled Ayari grabbed the first in the 40th minute and Skander Chiekh scored the second in injury time.

Kabia admitted that his side's lack of concentration when they were winning 2-0 cost them the victory.

"We lost focus because we were on top of the game, if you make mistakes they'll capitalise on your mistakes," he told BBC Sport after the game.

"We are going to Tunisia to win because we have the capability to win in Tunisia."

Orlando Pirates drew 0-0 in neighbouring Botswana with Gaborone United.

There was better news for former champions JS Kabylie of Algeria as they beat Armed Forces of Gambia 2-1.

Fares Hamiti scored the first for Kabylie just after half-time and Mohamed Amine Aoudia added the second nine minutes later.

The Gambian side pulled one back with five minutes left in the game.

Ghana's Asante Kotoko have it all to do at home in the second leg of their tie against ASC Linguere of Senegal as they lost 2-0 in Saint Louis.

DR Congo's St Eloi Lupopo earned themselves a 3-2 win away over Young Africans in Tanzania.

Lupopo took the lead after just four minutes through Zimbabwean Carrington Gomba and his compatriot Philip Marufu doubled the lead after 38 minutes.

Second-half goals from Kigi Makasi and Mrisho Ngassa drew things level for the hosts but Ntombo Lutete sealed the win for the Congolese side with just eight minutes left on the clock.

The Young Africans' chairman Iman Madega has refused to give up on progressing.

"In football you can't say there's no chance, we are going to do our best to win away, nothing is impossible in football," he told BBC Sport.

On Friday Uganda's URA beat Zanaco of Zambia 1-0 in the first of of the weekend's fixtures.

Captain Manko Kawesa scored the winner in injury time at the end of the game.

Ferroviario Maputo of Mozambique gained a vital away victory as they beat AC Mitsamiouli of Comoros 5-3.

Defending champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo are among eight clubs to receive byes into the second round of the tournament.

The second leg games will be played over the weekend 26-28 February.

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