Leopards are knocking spots off fancied rivals in the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup with three teams named after the animal reaching the last-16 phase this weekend.
Star-less South African side Black Leopards snatched a 2-2 draw against Saint Eloi Lupopo in the Democratic Republic of Congo to advance 6-4 on aggregate and set a trend of first round upsets.
Just one day later at the same stadium in southern Congolese mining city Lubumbashi came an even bigger shock as Swaziland police club Royal Leopards beat US Tshinkunku 2-1 with the decisive goal coming four minutes from time.
The Swazis advanced 3-2 on aggregate after defying the odds in the second tier CAF club championship for the second successive round having grounded Zambian air force team Red Arrows in a preliminary tie.
AC Leopards from Congo Brazzaville were equally unexpected survivors as they triumphed 2-0 away to Tunisian team CS SFaxien in Mediterranean city Sfax having fallen 2-1 at home two weeks ago.
Warri Wolves of Nigeria are the next opponents for Black Leopards, 2011 runners-up Club Africain of Tunisia will face Royal Leopards and Heartland of Nigeria are the probable opponents of AC Leopards.
Lupopo had Black Leopards on the rack when they led 2-1 midway through the second half and a third Congolese goal would have taken them through on the away-goal rule.
But despite the backing of a capacity 25,000 crowd and several ‘home town’ decisions from the Angolan referee, the South Africans held firm and snatched a last-minute equaliser from Kingston Nkhatha.
Zweli Nxumalo gave Royal Leopards a mid-second half lead, Lokinga Lomboto equalised and Mxolisi Mtsetfwa struck the goal that won the game and the tie four minutes from time.
