CAF Confederation Cup
Bayelsa beat Sfaxien, as Motema Pembe and Interclube win away
The first leg matches of the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup Second Preliminary Round were concluded on Sunday with three matches taking place.
Nigeria’s Bayelsa United defeated Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in Yenagoa, as Angola’s Interclube and DR Congo’s DC Motema Pembe achgieved victories away from home in Madagascar and Rwanda respectively.
Bayelsa United 1-0 CS Sfaxien
Nigeria’s Bayelsa United had a pleasant evening beating record Confederation Cup three-time champions CS Sfaxien 1-0 in Yenagoa.
Bayelsa missed numerous chances in the first half with the Tunisians’ goalkeeper Mohamed Gaaloul saving his side more than once.
At the hour mark, Victory Beniangba scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal to hand Bayelsa a vital home win. The return leg will take place in Sfax next weekend.
AS Kigali 1-2 DC Motema Pembe
DR Congo visitors DC Motema Pembe returned from Rwanda capital with a precious away victory over AS Kigali 2-1 to have a huge advantage before the return leg in Kinshasa.
Apionom Kassereka put the visitors ahead as early as the 8th minute making use of AS Kigali defensive blunder. And they went to the break 2-0 up when Kati Kurondi doubled their lead in the first half’s injury time.
AS Kigali pulled one back through Burundian Pierrot Kwizera two minutes after the hour mark. And despite numerous chances through Shaban Hussein, Aboubakar Lawal and Abbedy Biramahire, the hosts could not find the equalizer.
CFFA 0-3 Interclube
Angola’s Interclube de Luanda edged closer to the Additional Second Preliminary Round with a huge 3-0 victory over Madagascar’s CFFA in Antananarivo.
Mano Calesso broke the deadlock for Interclube after 11 minutes, and Mano Mano doubled the visitors’ lead three minutes later.
After the break, Mano Mano completed his brace with twelve minutes remaining, as Interclube will go to the second leg in Luanda with a convincing lead to defend.
-CAF
Zamalek commenced their CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 1-0 win over Kenya’s Police in the initial leg of the second preliminary round held in Nairobi this Saturday.
Veteran winger Abdallah El-Saied secured the win for the Whites with a precise strike from outside the box just a minute before halftime.
The Cairo giants, winners of the 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup title, started the match with relentless pressure on the hosts to clinch victory in the first leg and alleviate pressure before the upcoming return fixture in Cairo next Friday.
“The most important thing for us was to win and achieve our target,” Zamalek coach Gomes said after the game.
Hosts Police FC of Kenya could not breach Zamalek’s resolute defense in search of an equalizer.
Despite notable summer acquisitions, Zamalek’s coach Jose Gomes opted for a standard lineup, integrating young talents in lieu of seasoned players.
“We are now stronger than the previous season, thanks to spending more time with the team and preparing to play in the tournaments that we will participate in,” the Portuguese coach added.
Conversely, Kenya’s Police FC squandered a clear scoring opportunity against Zamalek, missing a crucial chance fifteen minutes before the final whistle, dashing hopes of leveling the score.
Kenya’s Police FC earned their place in this round following a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia Coffee SC.
-Ahram
Nigeria’s Enyimba played a thrilling 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round tie in Bamako on Friday.
There have been three previous confrontation with Burkina Faso teams and this Friday encounter was the second time that Enyimba had had to face Etoile Filante.
According to facts supplied by Opta Nigeria, Etoile Filante were Enyimba’s first ever opponent on the continent 22 years ago in March 2002. Ever since, Enyimba have played 157 times on the continent; the highest by any Nigerian club.
Enyimba carry their advantage to the return leg to be played on 22 September.
Nigeria’s sole survivors in the CAF Confederation Cup,Enyimba will face Burkina Faso sides, Etoile de Filante in the second round of the competition.
Enyimba drew bye in the preliminary round while the Burkina Faso team reached the second round after eliminating Hafia of Guinea.
Enyimba, second runners-up in the Nigerian League will be attempting to win the Confederation Cup for the first time for Nigeria as they did in the Champions League 21 years ago.
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