May 9 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Soccer-Cameroon's Coton Sport and twice winners Enyimba of Nigeria became the first two teams to reach the group phase of the African Champions League despite defeats in Friday's third round, second leg matches.

Coton Sport lost 2-1 to JS Kabylie in Tizi-Ouzou but qualified for the last eight for the first time with a 4-2 aggegate victory over the Algerians.

Enyimba, African champions in 2003 and 2004, were beaten 2-1 by Club Africain in Tunisia but had a comfortable 5-1 lead from the home leg of their tie.

Soccer-Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has reacted angrily to newspaper comments from Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez in which the Spaniard said the pair had spoken about the "idea" of Villa captain Gareth Barry moving to Anfield.

"What idea did I have? I've got absolutely no idea," O'Neill told Villa's Web site (www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk). "I think Rafa is being very clever here. He gives the impression that there's been constant dialogue. That's simply and utterly untrue."

Soccer-Kinnah Phiri will return to his previous post as coach of Malawi later this month, replacing Englishman Steve Constantine, soccer officials and South African premier league club Free State Stars said on Friday.

Former Malawi international Phiri will leave Free State Stars at the end of the season on May 18, just two weeks before Malawi play Djibouti in their opening 2010 World Cup qualifier.

Cricket - Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh appeared before an inquiry hearing on Friday in Ahmedabad and faces possible further punishment for slapping compatriot Shanthakumaran Sreesanth last month.

Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being found guilty by the match referee. As a centrally contracted player, he could face a further ban from the Indian Cricket Board. (Editing by Sonia Oxley/Rex Gowar)