CAF Champions League returns with a bang

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Aug 16, 2024. 13:00

The CAF Champions League will return with a bang this weekend, featuring no less than 27 first round, first leg qualifying matches across the continent.

This round excludes the five seeded teams who have been given a bye to next month’s second qualifying round: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) and Al Ahly (Egypt).

There are nonetheless some major names in action, including Tanzanian champions Young Africans, who will be away to Burundi’s Vital’O on Saturday – where the hosts are confident that they can spring a surprise.

“We want to compete against Young Africans. I know we are not favourites, but these games are about results. We want to win and progress in the Champions League,” said Vital’O official Arsene Bacuti.

The weekend features two Libya v Sudan clashes in the shape of Al Nasr v Al Merrikh and Al Ahly Benghazi v Al Hilal, while Ivorian sides Stade Abidjan and San Pedro will have West African derbies against Teungueth FC (Senegal) and Bo Rangers (Sierra Leone) respectively.

Former African champions Orlando Pirates of South Africa will be away to Madagascar’s CNaPS Sport (also known as Disciples). Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa believes the team’s preseason tour in Spain has primed them for the test of African club competition.

“The games were physical and that’s exactly what we will experience in Africa now we are ready for those physical battles in the Champions League,” said Mabasa.

Nigerian teams Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars will both be in action on Sunday against US Zilimadjou (Comoros) and AS FAR (Morocco) respectively. Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu believes his side is “getting to the level required to challenge positively in the CAF Champions League”.

The fate of North African heavyweights will also be a focus, with Raja Casablanca (Morocco), CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Pyramids FC (Egypt) taking on AS GNN (Niger), AC Leopards (Congo) and JKU SC (Zanzibar) respectively.

The second leg matches will be played on the weekend of 23-25 August.

CAF Champions League weekend fixtures

Times CAT. Qualifying: First round, first leg.

Friday 16 August

17:00: Arta Solar (Djibouti) v Dekedaha FC (Somalia)

18:00: Milo FC (Guinea) v FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

19:00: Mbabane Swallows (Eswatini) v Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique)

Saturday 17 August

15:00: African Stars (Namibia) v Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)

15:00: Ngezi Platinum (Zimbabwe) v AS Maniema Union (DR Congo)

15:00: SC Villa (Uganda) v Commercial Bank OE (Ethiopia)

15:00: Vital’O (Burundi) v Young Africans (Tanzania)

16:00: Red Star Bangui (Central African Republic) v Djoliba AC (Mali)

16:00: Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles) v Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)

18:00: AS Douanes (Burkina Faso) v Coton FC (Benin)

18:00: Stade Abidjan (Ivory Coast) v Teungueth FC (Senegal)

18:00: Bo Rangers (Sierra Leone) v San Pedro (Ivory Coast)

19:00: Al Nasr (Libya) v Al Merrikh (Sudan)

Sunday 18 August

13:00: CNaPS Sport (Madagascar) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

15:00: Al Merreikh Bentiu (South Sudan) v Gor Mahia (Kenya)

15:00: Nyasa Big Bullets (Malawi) v Red Arrows (Zambia)

15:30: AC Leopards (Congo) v CR Belouizdad (Algeria)

16:00: AS PSI (Chad) v US Monastir (Tunisia)

16:00: Deportivo Mongomo (Equatorial Guinea) v ASKO Kara (Togo)

16:00: Victoria United (Cameroon) v FC Samartez (Ghana)

16:00: US Zilimadjou (Comoros) v Enugu Rangers (Nigeria)

17:00: AS GNN (Niger) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

17:00: Azam FC (Tanzania) v APR FC (Rwanda)

17:00: Remo Stars (Nigeria) v AS FAR (Morocco)

19:00: Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) v Al Hilal (Sudan)

19:00: JKU SC (Zanzibar) v Pyramids FC (Egypt)

21:00: Watanga FC (Liberia) v NC Alger (Algeria)