Congolese side Tout Puissant Mazembe are now hot favourites to win Group A of the African Champions League after a 1-0 win away to Jeanne d'Arc of Senegal.

A 12th-minute goal from Momboko Ngoy was enough to give the Congolese victory.

Jeanne d'Arc's goalkeeper and skipper Khalilou Cissokho was at fault, allowing Ngoy's long-range header from a corner to sneak in as he collided with a defender on the goal-line.

TP Mazembe rarely looked like adding to that goal but gave the Senegalese a cruel lesson in keeping cool under pressure.

Jeanne d'Arc won a series of corners but created little from them.

Mouhamadou Diaow worked tirelessly for the Senegalese team, trying to carve out openings down the left.

But his team could not make the pressure count with Adboulaye Keita one of the chief culprits in front of goal.

Strong defence

Jeanne d'Arc had begun the match intent on getting a second victory after their shock away win against Al Ahly of Egypt in Cairo.

But despite a bright opening, Jeanne d'Arc never looked like reproducing that performance.

Cairo goalscorer Cesar Da Costa was rendered innocuous by a strong TP Mazembe defence.

With four matches still left, Jeanne d'Arc now have to regroup and try to show more steel against Raja of Casablanca.

The Dakar side's record in continental competition is modest, but after Senegal's strong showing in the World Cup expectations this year have been higher than before.

Prior to the match, Jeanne d'Arc players appealed for a huge turn-out at the Leopold Senghor stadium, calling on fans to put aside club loyalties and get behind the league champions.

Both the Senegalese football federation and the local authorities in Dakar made large donations to the club in advance of the match with TP Mazembe.