Ashanti Gold, Azam with clutch wins in CAF Confed Cup

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Aug 25, 2019. 09:00

Ashanti Gold of Ghana and Tanzania’s FC Azam were amongst nine teams which secured progression into the next round of the 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.

Saturday wrap

Ashanti came into their home clash with Akonangui having only drawn 1-1 away in Guinea earlier in the month, but Shafiu Mumuni racked up a quickfire hat-trick as they won 3-0 (4-1 on aggregate) to advance into the first round.

There they will be joined by Azam, who defeated Ethiopia’s Fasil Kenema 3-1 in Dar Es Salaam – featuring a brace from Richard Djodi – to win their tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Swaziland’s Young Buffaloes held Zambia’s Buildcon Ndola 1-1 to advance, Zanzibar’s Malindi won 1-0 both on the day and overall against Mogadishu City of Somali, and Benin’s ESAE won 2-0 at home to Snim of Mauritania to secure an impressive 7-0 aggregate triumph.

Proline of Uganda drew 0-0 away to Malawi’s Masters Security to advance 3-0 overall, Algeria’s Belouizdad won 2-0 at CotonTchad for a 3-0 aggregate triumph, Zimbabwe’s Triangle drew 0-0 in Burundi against Rukinzo to secure a 5-0 aggregate win, and the final game of the day saw Kamsar beat Paradou 1-0 in Guinea, but the Algerian club advanced 3-1 across the two legs.

CAF Confederation Cup results, Saturday 24 August

Aggregate scores in parenthesis

Masters Security 0-0 Proline (0-3)

Azam 3-1 Fasil Kenema (3-2)

Young Buffaloes 1-1 Buildcon Ndola (2-1)

Malindi 1-0 Mogadishu City (1-0)

CotonTchad 0-2 Belouizdad (0-4)

Ashanti Gold 3-0 Akonangui (4-1)

Rukinzo 0-0 Triangle (0-5)

ESAE 2-0 Snim (7-0)

Kamsar 1-0 Paradou (1-3)

Sunday preview

The final eight berths in the first round will be decided on Sunday, with the big game taking place in Brazzaville where Etoile du Congo will try to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Pyramids FC of Egypt.

South African cup winners TS Galaxy take a 1-0 lead into their clash in the Seychelles against Saint Louis Suns United, Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy will look to recover from a 3-1 loss against Bolton City of the Mauritius, and Libya’s Al Ittihad will fancy their chances of overcoming USGN of Niger.

DR Congo duo Maniema Union and Motema Pembe have differing challenges, with the former at home to Gabon’s Pelican (aggregate score of 1-1) and the latter taking a 2-0 lead to Cameroon for their return against Stade Renard.

Tunisia’s Ben Guerdane and Maranatha of Togo will be confident for their away matches against Amarat United and LISCR, as they enjoy 5-1 and 3-0 leads respectively.

The aggregate winners move into the first round, where they are joined by 11 seeded teams for two legs in mid and late September.

CAF Confederation Cup fixtures, Sunday 25 August

Aggregate scores in parenthesis

Maniema Union v Pelican (1-1)

Etoile du Congo v Pyramids (1-4)

Al Ittihad Tripoli v USGN (1-1)

Jwaneng Galaxy v Bolton City (1-3)

St Louis Suns United v TS Galaxy (0-1)

Stade Renard v Motema Pembe (0-2)

Amarat United v Ben Guerdane (1-5)

LISCR v Maranatha (0-3)