Zambian Jonas Sakuwaha bagged a brace as Al Merreikh defeated Al Hilal 3-2 in a clash of Sudanese club football giants Saturday to top a CAF Confederation Cup group.

Merreikh won Group A with 14 points from four victories and two draws, Hilal came second with 11, Angolan police team InterClube third with five and another Sudanese side, Al Ahly Shandy, last with three points.

Finishing first means Merreikh will face AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville or Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the semi-finals during November while Hilal take on Group B winners Djoliba of Mali.

The closing stages of the second-tier competition are going to be a test of endurance with the two-leg semi-finals and final being staged on four weekends in a row.

Ahmed Abdallah and Sakuwaha were on target for Merreikh within 18 minutes of the kick-off in Omdurman, Mohamed Al Tahir pulled one back before half-time and scored again in stoppage time after the Zambian had restored a two-goal lead.

InterClube, who reached the semi-finals last season, travelled to northern town Shandy without a win in five group games only to surprise the local club 2-1 through a final-minute winner.