Confederation Cup: Warriors crash out, RC Abidjan through on penalties

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Aug 25, 2024. 11:00

The CAF Confederation Cup qualifying first round continued with seven matches on Saturday, headlined by Nigeria’s El Kanemi Warriors crashing out, as well as Ivorian side RC Abidjan advancing on penalties after a fierce tie against Morocco’s Union de Touarga.

Warriors found themselves beaten 2-1 in Cotonou by Dadje FC of Benin to suffer a 3-2 aggregate loss. The hosts’ goals were both scored by Bless Salassi, and they will advance to take on Morocco’s RS Berkane in the next round.

Berkane’s compatriots Touraga are out, however, after they played to a 0-0 draw (0-0 also on aggregate) in the Ivorian capital against RC Abidjan. Both teams had a man sent off in the match, and this ultra-competitive tie was finally settled on penalties 2-1 in favour of the West African side.

Another hard-fought match was played out in Ndola, as Zambian hosts ZESCO United were held 0-0 by Zimbabwe’s Dynamos – with the latter therefore taking the tie 1-0 on aggregate to face either Botswana’s Orapa United or Foresters FC of the Seychelles in the next round.

The remainder of Saturday’s results brought straight-forward advancements. Mozambique’s Black Bulls crushed Alize Fort of Comoros 4-0 for an 11-0 overall triumph; South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC defeated Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) 5-0 (8-0 on aggregate); Ghana’s Nsoatreman FC were 2-0 winners (5-0 on aggregate) away to Elect Sport of Chad; and Stade Tunisien (Tunisia) whipped Jamus FC (South Sudan) 4-0 (5-0 on aggregate).

The first qualifying round continues on Sunday 25 August, headlined by Coastal Union (Tanzania) looking to make a comeback from 0-3 down against Bravos do Maquis (Angola), as well as ASC Jaraaf (Senegal) hosting East End Lions (Sierra Leone) in Thies.

CAF Confederation Cup results, Saturday 24 August

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

Black Bulls (Mozambique) 4-0 Alize Fort (Comoros) (11-0)

Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) 5-0 Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) (8-0)

ZESCO United (Zambia) 0-0 Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe) (0-1)

Elect Sport (Chad) 0-2 Nsoatreman FC (Ghana) (0-5)

Dadje FC (Benin) 2-1 El Kanemi Warriors (Nigeria) (3-2)

RC Abidjan (Ivory Coast) 0-0 Union de Touarga (Morocco) (0-0 –Abidjan won 2-1 on penalties)

Stade Tunisien (Tunisia) 4-0 Jamus FC (South Sudan) (5-0)