CAF Champions League Recap: North Africa thrives in final qualifying stage

Some of Africa’s top clubs advanced to the group stage of the CAF Champions League on Friday and Saturday while one notable club suffered a shocking defeat. African luminaries like Al Ahly of Egypt, Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat qualified for the group stage proper while South Africa’s Orlando Pirates fell in a penalty kick shootout to DR Congo’s FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo.

It was by far the most surprising result in Johannesburg at the Orlando Stadium, where last season’s semifinalists Pirates came back from a 0-3 first leg defeat in DR Congo only to fall in the penalty kick shootout. Yanela Mbuthuma was among the scorers for the Bucs, who dramatically sent the tie to penalties after Oswin Appollis’ injury time goal to complete a 3-0 second leg victory.

However, Mbuthuma lost his composure and sent his spot kick wide to send the Railwaymen of Saint-Éloi Lupopo through in a shock upset.

Al Ahly enjoyed much less drama as they advanced 2-0 on aggregate over Burundi’s Aigle Noir.

Ahly are joined by fellow North African clubs AS FAR Rabat and JS Kabylie of Algeria, who overcame fellow North African club US Monastir of Tunisia with a 2-1 second leg victory to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory on Saturday. AS FAR defeated Guinean club Horoya AC 3-0 in Rabat to advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Young Africans of Tanzania and Angola’s Petro de Luanda will be among the clubs leading the charge for sub-Saharan Africa in the CAF Champions League group stage. Young Africans overturned a 0-1 first leg defeat to down Malawi’s Silver Strikers 2-0 in Dar es Salaam, winning 2-1 in the aggregate score.

Petro de Luanda did brilliantly to win 2-0 away from home in Abidjan against Ivorian champions Stade d’Abidjan and the Angolan champions finished the job on Saturday with another 2-0 victory at home. Nigeria will be represented in the group stage as well after Rivers United held off Mozambique’s Black Bulls for a 3-1 second leg victory at home (3-2 aggregate win).

On Friday, Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman advanced with a victory over Kenya Police FC at their adopted home of Benghazi, Libya. A 3-0 result confirmed a 4-1 aggregate victory for last season’s quarterfinalists after Zambia’s Power Dynamos advanced earlier on Friday with a 1-1 draw at home against Ugandan champions Vipers SC, good enough for a 3-2 aggreate victory.

Sunday will see five more teams punch their ticket to the group stage while defending champions Pyramids FC and CAF Confederation Cup holders RS Berkane begin their CAF Champions League final qualifying stage duels with the first leg. The two teams took part in the CAF Super Cup last weekend, delaying the start of their Champions League adventure.

CAF Champions League: Friday and Saturday Results

Saturday

Orlando Pirates (RSA) 3-0 FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo (DRC)

• Tied 3-3 on aggregate. Saint-Éloi Lupopo advance 5-4 in penalty kick shootout.

Young Africans (TZA) 2-0 Silver Strikers (MWI)

• Young Africans advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Rivers United (NGA) 3-1 Black Bulls (MOZ)

• Rivers United advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Petro de Luanda (ANG) 2-0 Stade d’Abidjan (CIV)

• Petro de Luanda advance 4-0 on aggregate.

Al Ahly (EGY) 1-0 Aigle Noir (BDI)

• Al Ahly advance 2-0 on aggregate.

JS Kabylie (ALG) 2-1 US Monastir (TUN)

• JS Kabylie advance 5-1 on aggregate.

AS FAR Rabat (MAR) 3-0 Horoya AC (GUI)

• AS FAR Rabat advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Friday

Power Dynamos (ZAM) 1-1 Vipers SC (UGA)

• Power Dynamos advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Al Hilal Omdurman (SDN) 3-1 Police FC (KEN)

• Al Hilal Omdurman advance 4-1 on aggregate.

CAF Champions League: Sunday Fixtures

Simba SC (TZA) vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (ESW)

• Simba SC lead 3-0 after first leg.

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) vs Remo Stars (NGA)

• Mamelodi Sundowns lead 5-1 after first leg.

Esperance Tunis (TUN) vs Rahimo FC (BFA)

• Esperance Tunis lead 1-0 after first leg.

Ethiopian Insurance (ETH) vs Pyramids FC (EGY)

• First leg.

Stade Malien (MLI) vs FC Nouadhibou (MRT)

• Tied 1-1 after first leg.

Al Ahly Tripoli (LBY) vs RS Berkane (MAR)

• First leg.

MC Alger (ALG) vs Colombe Sportive (CMR)

• Tied 1-1 after first leg.