Rukinzo, Etoile Filante join Libyan pair in Confederation Cup second round

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Aug 24, 2024. 11:19

Rukinzo FC (Burundi) and Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) have joined the Libyan pair of Al Hilal Benghazi and Al Ahli Tripoli in advancing to the next round of qualifiers for the CAF Confederation Cup on Friday.

Rukinzo trumped Horseed FC (Somalia) 2-0 at ‘home’ in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to take the tie by the same score and set up a second round clash against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien.

In Bamako, Mali, Etoile Filante were held 0-0 at ‘home’ by Guinea’s Hafia FC, but advanced on ‘away’ goals thanks to a 1-1 draw at the same Stade du 26 Mars last weekend. The Burkina Faso club will next have a West African regional derby against Nigerian heavyweights Enyimba FC.

In Benghazi, Al Hilal claimed a second successive 3-2 win over Uganda’s Kitara FC for a goal-laden 6-4 triumph across the tie. They will next face fellow North Africans Al Masry of Egypt.

In Tripoli, Al Ahli defeated Uhamiaji FC (Zanzibar) 3-1 for a 5-1 overall triumph, and they will advance into the second round for a showdown with Tanzanian heavyweights Simba SC.

The first qualifying round continues on Saturday 24 August, headlined by a Southern African derby between ZESCO United (Zambia) and Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe), as well as a delicately-poised tie between RC Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Union de Touarga (Morocco).

CAF Confederation Cup results, Friday 23 August

First round, second-leg matches. Aggregate score in parenthesis.

Rukinzo FC (Burundi) 2-0 Horseed FC (Somalia) (2-0)

Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) 0-0 Hafia FC (Guinea) (1-1 – Etoile advance on away goals)

Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya) 3-2 Kitara FC (Uganda) (6-4)

Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) 3-1 Uhamiaji FC (Zanzibar) (5-1)