Nigerian side Heartland kept alive their hopes of reaching the semi final of the Champions League after beating visiting Etoile du Sahel 3-0 on Sunday.

Two goals before the break and another in the second-half sealed the doom of the Tunisians in the Group B game.

The win has taken Heartland to joint top of Group B with TP Mazembe of DR Congo who also have six points.

TP Mazembe thrashed Zimbabwe's Monomotapa 5-0 in the group's other game on Saturday.

Midfielder Kaluyituka Dioko was the hero of the home side as he scored a hat-trick against the stubborn visiting side.

The Zimbabweans capitulated in the second-half with the home side breaking the deadlock just before the break.

Kaluyituka Dioko opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Mputu Mabi doubled the lead on 58 minutes.

Kabangu Mulota made it 3-0 in the 67th minute before late brace by Dioko sealed the emphatic victory.

Monomotapa remain at the bottom of the group with three points.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Al Merreikh suffered a shock home defeat when they lost 3-2 to Zesco United in Group A of the Champions League on Saturday.

Striker Jonas Sakuwaha netted a first half hat-trick to help seal the win.

The Zambians raced into a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes before Endurance Idohor converted a 30th minute penalty to restore hope.

Zesco were 3-1 up five minutes later after a comical error by defenders of the home side in Omdurman.

Karim Eddafi struck in the 77th minute but the Zambians were resolute.

Al Hilal of Sudan moved to the top of Group A after beating Kano Pillars 2-0 on Friday.

Two second half goals secured victory for the home side in the top-of-the-table clash in Omdurman.

The Nigerians held their own until the 55th minute when Mohammed Al Tahir opened the scoring from the spot.

Hamoda Ahmed El-Basheer doubled the tally 13 minutes later after taking advantage of a defensive slip-up by defenders of the visiting side.

This means Al Hilal are now top of Group A with seven points at the halfway stage.

Zesco United and Kano Pillars are tied at second with four points each while Al Merreikh remain bottom of the table with one point.

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