CAF Confederation Cup
Five-goal thriller highlights CAF Interclub opener
The start of the 2024/25 CAF Inter-club Season got off to a flying start on Friday with six fixtures to mark the start of what promises to be another thrilling season of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
The start of the season was highlighted by a high scoring encounters, signalling a strong statement of intent for clubs this season as they take aim at continental glory.
In the CAF Champions League, Djibouti’s Arta Solar7 started off their campaign on shaky ground after being subjected to a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Dekadaha FC of Somalia.
Eswatini’s Mbabane Swallows had to dig deep in a match played in Pretoria, South Africa as they edged Clube Ferroviario Da Beira of Mozambique by a hard-fought 1-0 win ahead of next weekend’s return leg in Mozambique.
Milo FC will have a tough task getting a result next weekend after FC Nouadhibou, last season’s debutants showed their experience in holding them to a goalless draw.
Meanwhile in the CAF Confederation Cup, Tunisia’s Stade Tunisien were happy travellers after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Jamus FC of South Sudan.
The highest scoring match of the day was in Uganda when Kitara FC played host to Libyan powerhouse Al Hilal in a five-goal thriller, that saw the Libyans walk away 3-2 victors ahead of the return leg next weekend.
Burundi’s Rukinzo FC will be satisfied with their travels after holding Somalia’s Horseed FC to a goalless draw.
CAF Champions League First Preliminary Results:
Arta Solar7 (Djibouti) 0 – 2 Dekadaha FC (Somalia)
Milo FC (Guinea) 0 – 0 FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
Mbabane Swallows (Eswatini) 1 – 0 Clube Ferroviario Da Beira (Mozambique)
CAF Confederation Cup First Preliminary Results:
Jamus FC (South Sudan) 0 – 1 Stade Tunisien (Tunisia)
Kirara FC (Uganda) 2 – 3 Al Hilal (Libya)
Horseseed FC (Somalia) 0 – 0 Rukinzo FC (Burundi)
CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup action continues throughout the weekend, with more exciting fixtures scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday across the continent.
CAF Champions League Fixtures – CLICK HERE
CAF Confederation Cup Fixtures – CLICK HERE
-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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