CAF Champions League
Enyimba, Remo Stars among home sides seeking reverse upsets in Champions League 2nd legs
After a highly entertaining opening round of the CAF Champions League 1st Preliminary Round, clubs are preparing for yet another action-packed weekend of African club football.
The opening round saw some interesting results and upsets this past weekend, setting up another round of ties that fans of the African game can look forward to.
After holding on to a narrow 1-0 victory in Ghana, Medeama SC travel to Nigeria with a slim advantage ahead of their return leg with Remo Stars at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
In Zambia, Power Dynamos host Namibia’s African Stars after a 2-1 first leg loss in Soweto.
Dynamos will not only be looking at getting a result at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, but also aiming at getting a confidence boosting win ahead of their start to the Zambian Premier League next week.
A match to certainly look forward to this weekend is without a doubt Al Ahli Benghazi’s trip to Aba in Nigeria where they will face Enyimba.
The two sides produced one of the most electrifying high-scoring fixtures last weekend that concluded in a 4-3 victory for the Libyan’s who will have their work cut out in Aba.
Moving over to Cote d’Ivoire, TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 hosting venue, Yamoussoukro Stadium plays host to Asec Mimosas against Coton Sport of Benin.
The two sides played out to a goalless draw in the first leg, paving the way for another tightly contested match where both sides will be going all out for the result.
In the northern parts of the continent, Tunisian giants, Etoile du Sahel travel to the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine, Algeria with a 2-0 cushion to face CS Constantine.
While the Tunisians carry somewhat of a comfortable lead, the hosts will be buoyed by the highly vocal fans of Constantine who are known to create an intimidating atmosphere in their full voice.
A similar uphill task awaits Uganda’s Vipers SC, who will be aiming at reversing a 2-0 loss suffered at the hands of Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy last weekend.
Fortunately for The Venoms, they will be at their St Mary’s Stadium home base in Kampala which should give them a slight advantage.
Further down the continent, former champions (1995) Orlando Pirates welcomes Comoros’ Djabal FC with a slender 1-0 advantage following a successful trip to the Islanders last weekend.
CAF Champions League Fixtures | 24 – 27 August:
Thursday, 24 August 2023
- Gaadiidka 0-2 APR FC
Friday, 25 August
- Bumamuru 5-1 CS de Bendje
- Al Merrikh SC 0-0 AS Otoho
- Orlando Pirates 4-0 Djabal FC
Saturday, 26 August
- Power Dynamos vs African Stars
- Green Mamba vs UD do Songo
- Etoile du Sahel vs SC Constantine
- AS Far vs ASKO De Kara
- Young Africans vs ASAS Djibouti
- Vipers SC vs Jwaneng Galaxy FC
Sunday, 27 August
- Generation Foot vs Haifa FC
- LISCR FC vs Bo Rangers FC
- Remo Stars FC vs Medeama SC
- Saint George SC vs KMKM SC
- FCB Nyasa Big Bullets vs Dragon FC
- Enyimba vs Al Ahli Benghazi
- Asec Mimosas vs Coton Sport Benin
- Coton Sport FC de Garoua vs AS Real De Bamako
- Al Ahli Tripoli vs FC Nouadhibou
- AS Vita Club vs CD Primeiro de Agosto
CAF Champions League
VIDEO: Controversial penalty kick remains a talking point in Remo Stars’ elimination
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Adissa-Abdul-Raphiou-Ligali.png)
But for the questionable penalty kick awarded for AS FAR of Morocco in the 78th minute of the tension-soaked CAF Champions League duel with Remo Stars on Sunday in Rabat, the complexion of the final result as well as the aggregate scorelines may have been different.
Match scoreline stood at 1-1 before the referee, Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali of Benin Republic, who was midway to the centre circle suddenly blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick to the hosts.
Before then, all body contacts had been ruled against Remo Stars. Even, the Moroccans looked amused when the referee, who was off the scene suddenly ran into the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick for an incident, even if it were an infraction, happened outside the penalty box.
The award of the penalty kick and the conversion by El Amine Zouhzouh, literaly sealed Remo Stars thin hope of advancing.
The Nigerian side left it too late as they only came out to attack after their hopes had been sealed.
In starting the crucial match, their lead scorer, Sikiru Alimi and assist master, Sodiq Ismail were brought in only after the damage had been done. It was after the first goal in the 51st minute that Alimi was brought in in the 54th minute.
CAF Champions League
Enugu Rangers to face Angolan sides, G.D. Sagrada Esperança
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/enugu-rangers.jpg)
Nigeria’s champions, Enugu Rangers have been drawn against Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança of Angola in the next round of the CAF Champions League.
The fixtures come up next month with Enugu Rangers hosting the first leg on 13 September.
The return leg holds on 20 September. Enugu Rangers advanced after eliminating Comoros Islands’ US Zilimadjou.
Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança better known as G.D. Sagrada Esperança advanced after seeing off Saint-Louis Suns United of Seychelles on a 4-0 aggregate.
CAF Champions League
Giants progress in CAF Champions League
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GV3AmmUXQAAGb0y.jpg)
The first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League reached its climax on Sunday, with several heavyweight clubs securing their passage to the next stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
In a difficult turnaround, AS FAR Rabat of Morocco overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Nigeria’s Remo Stars, winning 2-0 in Rabat.
Congolese striker Joël Beya broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, before Zouhzouh sealed the victory with a penalty in the 80th minute, propelling the Moroccan side into the second preliminary round.
Algeria’s CR Bélouizdad continued their impressive form, securing a 1-0 victory over AC Léopards of Congo, thanks to a 24th-minute strike from Benguit.
This win, following their 2-0 first-leg triumph, sets up an intriguing clash with Burkina Faso’s AS Douanes in the next round.
AS Douanes progressed on away goals after two draws against Benin’s Coton FC, highlighting the fine margins in continental competition.
Ghana’s Samartex emphatically stamped their authority on their tie against Cameroon’s Victoria United, winning 1-0 at home to complete a 2-0 aggregate victory.
Isaac Afful’s 8th-minute goal extinguished any hopes of a Cameroonian comeback, setting up a mouth-watering second-round clash with African giants Raja Casablanca.
In other notable results, Cote d’Ivoire champions San Pedro edged past Sierra Leone’s BO Rangers with a 1-0 win, while Congo’s AS Maniema Union held their nerve to defeat Zimbabwe’s Ngezi Platinum on penalties after two goalless draws.
Togo’s ASKO Kara also progressed, beating Equatorial Guinea’s Deportivo Mongomo 1-0 thanks to an early goal from new signing Adam Musah.
However, the day was not without its upsets. FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania, surprise participants in last season’s group stage, were eliminated on away goals by Guinea’s Milo FC.
The second preliminary round promises even more excitement, with matches scheduled from September 13 to 15 for the first legs, and September 23 to 25 for the return fixtures.
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