KHAMA BILLIAT was not part of the proceedings when defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns held Esperance to a 0-0 draw in their African Champions League Group C clash in Tunis on Wednesday night.

The Warriors international forward has not yet fully recovered from an ankle injury that also saw him miss Zimbabwe’s 3-0 drubbing of Liberia in an AFCON qualifier played in Harare on June 11.

Without Khama, Sundowns had to look up to dribbling wizard Percy Tau and the best chance of the game fell to him but he could not beat the Esperance keeper.

Esperance top the pool with eight points from their four games, while Sundowns move into second, ahead of St George of Ethiopia on goal-difference with both sides on five points. AS Vita club are in fourth with three points.

Sundowns are next at St George on July 1 in what will be a must-win game.

A lively opening half-hour produced little in the way of clear-cut chances for either side, but Sundowns should have been ahead on 34 minutes.

Themba Zwane rolled the ball into the path of Tau, who had just Esperance goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia to beat, but saw his low shot well saved.

Anthony Laffor then shot wide after more excellent build-up play, while at the other end Denis Onyango was forced into a fine close-range stop from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef's header.

The only real chance of the second half fell to Ben Youssef, who had another headed chance that was comfortable for Onyango.

TEAMS
Esperance: Ben Cherifia, Machani, Talbi, Badri (Jelassi 80'), Ben Youssef, Chemmam, Sassi, Coulibaly, M'barki, Chalali, Khenissi
Subs: Ejjemel, Guesmi, Rejaibi, Mejri, Errabei, Belkaroui

Sundowns: Onyango, Ngcongca, Madisha, Soumahoro, Langerman, Kekana, Vilakazi, T.Zwane (Mohomi 90'), Laffor (Morena 76'), Tau, Zakri (Mabunda 90').
Subs: Sandilands, Hachi, S.Zwane, Castro.