Congolese giants AS Vita Club were among a number of high-profile clubs to advance to the second round of the CAF Champions League on Wednesday, but Sudanese heavyweights Al-Merrikh were one of several big clubs to fall at the first hurdle.
Les Dauphins Noirs, African champions in 1973, won 2-1 away at Mighty Wanderers of Malawi to take the tie 6-1 on aggregate and establish themselves as one of the teams to watch this season.
In contrast, Sudanese side Al-Merrikh claimed a 2-1 victory over Botswana club Township Rollers, but still crashed out of the competition 4-2 on aggregate in what is perhaps the shock of the round.
AC Leopards of Congo-Brazzaville were also surprise losers as they finished their tie locked at 3-3 on aggregate with AS Togo-Port, but went down 4-3 on penalties.
Nigerian side Mountain of Fire and Miracles FC claimed an excellent 2-1 aggregate win over AS Real Bamako after they won the second leg away from home by a single goal.
Rayon Sports of Rwanda set up a second round meeting with 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns after they claimed a 1-0 win at LLB Academic in Burundi to take the tie 2-1.
Zikiru Adams scored four goals as Zambian side Zesco United humbled JKU from Zanzibar to seal the tie by the same scoreline after they had been held goalless in the first leg.
KCCA of Uganda edged Malagasy side CNaPS Sport on the away goals rule after they won 1-0 at home to leave the tie locked at 2-2.
Paul Mucureezi scored the only goal of the game just past the hour-mark to seal the precious win.
Ghana's Aduana Stars overturned a first-leg deficit to claim a 2-0 victory over Libyan side Al Tahaddi and secure their passage to the next stage.
Lesotho side Bantu came close to a stunning upset when they beat Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland 3-1 away, but the 5-5 aggregate score meant their hosts still advanced on the away goals rule.
Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas claimed a 3-2 success over Buffles du Borgou from Benin to take their tie 4-3 on aggregate, while Esperance of Tunisia had a much easier time of it with a 5-0 success over ASAC Concorde from Mauritania for a 6-1 aggregate victory.
South African champions Bidvest Wits lost 1-0 at Mauritian side Pamplemousses FC, but still scraped through the tie 2-1.