Botswana’s Rollers advance in CAF Champions League

Main Ditshupo of Township Roller and Khaled Taha of EL Merreikh during the 2018 CAF Champions League football match between Township Rollers and EL Merreikh at National Stadium,Botswana on 10 February 2018 ©/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Feb 22, 2018. 09:00

Township Rollers reached the first round of the 2018 CAF Champions League despite suffering a narrow defeat to Al Merrikh.

Sudanese giants Al Merrikh edged out Botswana Premier League (BPL) champions Rollers 2-1 in the preliminary round second-leg encounter on Wednesday.

As a result, Rollers advanced to the next stage after winning the tie 4-2 on aggregate despite losing at the Al-Merrikh Stadium in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan.

Rollers opened the scoring through Botswana international Joel Mogorosi, but Sheka Fofana secured a 2-1 victory for Al Merrikh.

The Sudanese Premier League side were eliminated from Africa’s prestigious competition having lost 3-0 to Rollers in the first-leg in Gaborone, Botswana.

Rollers will now take on the 2016/17 Tanzanian Premier League champions Young Africans in the two-legged first-round.

Africans booked their place in the first round after overcoming Seychelles champions Saint Louis Suns United 2-1 on aggregate.

The first round encounters games between Rollers and Africans will be played in March 2018. The winner on aggregate will advance to the group stage.