Heavyweights look to secure progression in Champions League

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Aug 23, 2024. 11:00

Several African heavyweights will be looking to secure progression in the qualifying phase of the CAF Champions League when 27 first round, second-leg matches are played across the continent this weekend.

South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, for example, will look to take control of their tie against Madagascar’s CNaPS Sport when the teams meet in Soweto on Friday evening – with the teams having played to a goalless stalemate in the first leg last weekend.

“We could not manage to capitalise [on our chances in the first match] to get a goal advantage at least to go into the second leg with an advantage,” said Pirates coach Jose Riveiro.

“But we didn’t concede, it is also important […]. We have to finalise this in Orlando and we know that it is not going to be easy, like I said, because they are a good team and we have to do everything to impose ourselves.”

The heavyweights looking to close out their ties on Saturday are CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Raja Casablanca (Morocco) – the former host AC Leopards of Congo with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, while the latter host AS GNN of Niger with a 2-1 lead.

Saturday also sees Tanzanian clubs Azam FC and Young Africans in strong positions to advance. Azam take a 1-0 lead to Rwanda for their clash with APR FC, while Yanga already have one foot in the second round, as they host Burundi’s Vital’O with a 4-0 lead.

“The other team, I think, talked too much. You must have respect. They said we were going to play ugly, and we said they are nothing. We showed why we are champions. We are Yanga, a big team, and honestly, I didn’t even know if they existed,” said coach Miguel Gamondi.

Sunday features the likes of Al Hilal (Sudan), FC Samartex (Ghana) and US Monastir (Tunisia) playing at home with first-leg advantages, but the focus will be on a potential thriller at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat between AS FAR of Morocco and Nigeria’s Remo Stars.

The West African club holds a 2-1 lead from the first leg, but coach Daniel Ogunmodede admits that the return game will be a testing one: “Firstly, I would like to talk about what we expect from them.

“We anticipate a lot of hostility, both on and off the pitch, as is their custom. Their antics are something we are prepared for, and we will be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

The 27 winners will advance into the second round and join the five-seeded teams: Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Petro de Luanda (Angola) and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).

CAF Champions League weekend fixtures

Times CAT. First round, second leg matches – aggregate score in parenthesis.

Friday 23 August

16:00: Enugu Rangers (Nigeria) v US Zilimadjou (Comoros) (1-0)

18:00: Dekedaha FC (Somalia) v Arta Solar (Djibouti) (2-0)

19:00: Pyramids FC (Egypt) v JKU SC (Zanzibar) (6-0)

19:30: Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v CNaPS Sport (Madagascar) (0-0)

21:00: MC Alger (Algeria) v Watanga FC (Liberia) (2-0)

Saturday 24 August

14:00: Commercial Bank OE (Ethiopia) v SC Villa (Uganda) (2-1)

15:00: Al Merrikh (Sudan) v Al Nasr (Libya) (0-0)

15:00: Red Arrows (Zambia) v Nyasa Big Bullets (Malawi) (1-2)

16:00: Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) v African Stars (Namibia) (0-1)

16:30: Sagrada Esperanca (Angola) v Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles) (1-0)

18:00: APR FC (Rwanda) v Azam FC (Tanzania) (0-1)

18:00: Young Africans (Tanzania) v Vital’O (Burundi) (4-0)

19:00: Teungueth FC (Senegal) v Stade Abidjan (Ivory Coast) (1-1)

21:00: CR Belouizdad (Algeria) v AC Leopards (Congo) (2-0)

21:00: Raja Casablanca (Morocco) v AS GNN (Niger) (2-1)

Sunday 25 August

14:00: Gor Mahia (Kenya) v Al Merreikh Bentiu (South Sudan) (0-1)

15:00: Al Hilal (Sudan) v Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) (1-0)

15:00: Coton FC (Benin) v AS Douanes (Burkina Faso) (0-0)

15:00: Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique) v Mbabane Swallows (Eswatini) (0-1)

16:30: AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) v Ngezi Platinum (Zimbabwe) (0-0)

17:00: FC Samartex (Ghana) v Victoria United (Cameroon) (1-0)

18:00: Djoliba AC (Mali) v Red Star Bangui (Central African Republic) (0-0)

18:00: ASKO Kara (Togo) v Deportivo Mongomo (Equatorial Guinea) (2-2)

18:00: US Monastir (Tunisia) v AS PSI (Chad) (1-0)

18:00: San Pedro (Ivory Coast) v Bo Rangers (Sierra Leone) (1-1)

19:00: FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) v Milo FC (Guinea) (0-0)

22:00: AS FAR (Morocco) v Remo Stars (Nigeria) (1-2)