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CAF Champions League

HOW GOR MAHIA DIMMED LOBI STARS IN NAIROBI

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Gor Mahia could become the first Kenyan club to reach the CAF Champions League group phase after defeating Lobi Stars ofNigeria 3-1 on Sunday in a 2018/2019 round-of-30 first leg.


It was a better-than-expected result for the Nairobi outfit after they struggled to overcome Nyasa Big Bullets of Malawi in the preliminary round,scraping through on penalties.


The overall outcome could hinge on whether Gor Mahia can score an away goal inNigeria this Saturday to cancel the one Lobi Stars snatched in east Africa.


Kenyan clubs have failed to reach the group stage since its introduction in 1997, but Gor came close last year by losing 1-0 overall to eventual champions Esperance of Tunisia.


Rwandan Jacques Tuyisenge gave Gor Mahia a sixth-minute lead in Nairobi that Samuel Onyango increased midway through the first half.
Samuel Kadiri pulled one goal back for Lobi only for Onyango to net again before half-time with the last goal of the match.

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Five former winners of the competition were in action and four won at home while the other drew away.


V Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 1973 champions, look set for the group stage after hammering minnows Bantu of Lesotho 4-1 in Kinshasa.


Jean-Marc Makusu, runner-up in the CAF Confederation Golden Boot race last season with 11 goals, bagged a brace for the Congolese.


Tunisians Club Africain, who were African champions 27 years ago, came from behind to defeat Al Hilal of Sudan 3-1 in the Tunis suburb of Rades.


The hosts had the narrowest of leads until Oussema Darragi scored a potentially crucial third goal one minute into stoppage time.
Ismaily, whose 1969 triumph was the first in the competition by an Egyptian club, won 2-0 at home to Coton Sport of Cameroon with Baher el Mohamadi and Karim Bambo scoring.

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Five-time African champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo managed only a 1-0 win over Zambian club Zesco United in Lubumbashi with an early Jackson Muleka goal separating the sides.


Mamelodi Sundowns, who two years ago became the second South African winners of the Champions League, drew 0-0 away to Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya in Cairo.


Benghazi were forced to move the fixture to the Egyptian capital because of militia violence in their country.


AS Otoho of Congo Brazzaville, who shocked 2018 semi-finalists Primeiro Agosto of Angola in the preliminary round, were held 1-1 at home by FC Platinum of Zimbabwe.


Mamane Cisse gave the hosts an 18th-minute lead in the northern town of Owando and Lameck Namho levelled three minutes after half-time.
The 15 second legs are scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday while defending champions Esperance of Tunisia received a bye into the December 28 group draw.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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CAF Champions League

Heartbreak for Al Ahly as Sundowns edge to CAF Champions League final on away goals rule

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Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a dramatic spot in the final of the CAF Champions League after holding Al Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Cairo on Friday night, progressing on the away goals rule.

After a tense 0-0 stalemate in the first leg in Pretoria, it was Al Ahly who drew first blood in the return leg at the Cairo International Stadium.

Taher Mohamed fired the hosts into the lead midway through the first half, smashing home from outside the box after being teed up by the lively Emam Ashour.

Backed by a passionate home crowd, Al Ahly dominated much of the first period and looked on course to finally break their winless streak against the South Africans.

But Mamelodi Sundowns showed their resilience and turned the tie on its head in the closing stages.

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With ten minutes remaining, a low cross caused panic in the Ahly defence, resulting in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Peter Shalulile.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Egyptian giants and a lifeline for Sundowns, who knew a 1-1 draw would be enough to see them through.

Al Ahly threw everything forward in search of a late winner, with substitutes Achraf Bencharki and Wessam Abou Ali both going close in a frantic finale.

But Sundowns, marshalled superbly by their backline and aided by a bit of fortune, held firm to seal a famous qualification.

It marks a significant milestone for Pretoria-based side, who have now gone nine consecutive matches unbeaten against the record African champions.

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Sundowns’ reward is a place in the final, where they will face either Pyramids FC or Orlando Pirates — with the second semi-final set to be decided later.

For Al Ahly, it was a night of bitter disappointment despite their brave efforts, as their dream of a record-extending CAF Champions League title came to a crashing halt at home.

-CAF

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CAF Champions League

Late Mayele heroics send Pyramids into historic first final after five-goal thriller

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Pyramids’ Fiston Mayele celebrates his goal

The Egyptian side Pyramids sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando Pirates in Cairo on Friday night to book their place in the final of the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history.

After a goalless first leg in Johannesburg, both sides came out determined at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, and it was Pirates who struck first when Relebohile Mofokeng slotted home from close range midway through the first half.

The lead, however, was short-lived. Pyramids levelled just before half-time, with Fiston Mayele pouncing on a cross from Mostafa Fathi to restore parity.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued after the break, and Pirates regained the advantage when Mohau Nkota fired in a superb low drive on 52 minutes.

Yet the Egyptian side showed their resolve in front of their home fans. Ramadan Sobhi rose highest to meet a Mohamed Chibi cross, heading past Sipho Chaine to make it 2-2 just moments later.

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The decisive moment came with just six minutes remaining.

After a goalmouth scramble from a corner, Mayele reacted quickest, hammering the ball into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.

Despite late pressure from the South African visitors, including efforts from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng, Pyramids held on to secure a famous win and extend their remarkable unbeaten home record to 23 matches.

The result means Pyramids will face Mamelodi Sundowns, who earlier eliminated Al Ahly on away goals, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final.

For Orlando Pirates, it was a brave effort but one that ultimately fell short, ending their hopes of a second CAF Champions League title.

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CAF Champions League

Al Ahly, Sundowns brace for Cairo showdown with final spot on the line

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Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa is challenged by Al Ahly’s Ahmed Reda Hashem in the first leg encounter.

Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are set for a blockbuster clash on Friday night at Cairo International Stadium as they battle for a place in the final of the CAF Champions League.

With the first leg in Pretoria ending goalless, everything is still to play for in this highly anticipated second-leg encounter.

Despite Al Ahly’s rich history and dominance in African club football, Sundowns have held the upper hand in recent meetings.

The South African giants are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Cairo club, scoring 11 goals and conceding just five in that run.

Al Ahly have not defeated Sundowns since May 2021 and will be looking to overturn that trend on home soil.

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The hosts have been rock solid at the back in this season’s Champions League, keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

Their defensive resilience will be key once again, especially against a Sundowns side that has failed to score in its last 216 minutes of continental action.

Peter Shalulile, with three goals to his name in the tournament, remains the Brazilians’ biggest threat up front.

Midfielder Emam Ashour has been pivotal to Al Ahly’s campaign, scoring five times — joint-highest in the competition — and will be expected to spark the attack once more.

Home advantage could prove crucial for the Egyptians.

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They are unbeaten in their last six home games across all competitions and boast three wins from four home matches in this CAF Champions League campaign.

Sundowns, meanwhile, have struggled on the road, managing just one win in four away matches this season.

With a place in the final at stake, both sides will be pushing to make their mark in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity clash under the Cairo lights.

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