Ten-man Al Ahly began their CAF Champions League group stage campaign with a 1-0 loss to Etoile du Sahel in Group B on Friday in Rades.
Ahly were handed a blow as early as the 13th minute when Ayman Ashraf was sent for an early shower with a straight red card.
The only goal of the game arrived five minutes after halftime through the expertise of Yassine Chikhaoui.
Al Hilal overcame FC Platinum 2-1 at the Al-Hilal Stadium during Group B's other fixture in Khartoum.
A double from Mohamed Edai either side of the half inspired the Sudanese to victory, despite the response from Never Tigere in the latter phases of the second half.
JS Kabylie rose to the top of Group D after overcoming the Democratic Republic of Congo's AS Vita 1-0 at the Stade Novembre 1st.
The Algerians grabbed the winner 66 minutes in the second half through Toufik Addadi.