It was a mixed weekend for the COSAFA clubs competing in the semifinals of CAF competitions with a win and a defeat to take into this week’s second legs.

Petro Atletico from Angola fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Wydad Casablanca from Morocco and will have it all to do in north Africa in the return fixture on Friday.

Wydad took control of the match in Lunda as Petro’s Tiago Azulão scored an unfortunate own goal early on, and there were further strikes from Yahya Jabrane and Guy Kamboleke for the visitors.

Substitute Job pulled one back for the home side, who then had Brazilian Soares sent off late on after he picked up two bookings.

Petro know they will have to score three times in Casablanca to have a chance of progression to the final, where in all likelihood Egyptian giants Al Ahly await.

Ahly demolished Algerian side ES Setif 4-0 in the first leg of their semifinal and are virtually assured of a place in the final.

But there was better news for South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, who won the first leg of their semifinal against Al Ahli Tripoli 2-0 in Benghazi on Sunday.

It was a polished performance from The Buccaneers as they scored goals via Innocent Maela and Goodman Mosele, and they should be too strong in the return leg on Sunday.

Who they may play in the final is still open to debate, TP Mazembe secured a narrow 1-0 home win over RS Berkane from Morocco in the first leg of their tie, but now face a difficult trip to north Africa for the return.