CAF Champions League: Adetunji brace sends Al Hilal Omdurman to group stage

Sunday Adetunji’s two goals was enough on Friday to qualify Sudanese champions Al Hilal Omdurman to the group stage of the CAF Champions League with a 3-1 second leg victory over Kenya Police in Benghazi, Libya. After a 1-0 first leg victory in Nairobi, Hilal confirmed a 4-1 aggregate victory in the final round of qualifying at the Benina Martyrs Stadium.

Unable to host their home leg in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict in the country, home advantage was still enjoyed by Hilal at their adopted home venue in Libya with strong support at the stadium. The Kenyan champions provided stiff resistance but clinical finishing from Nigerian forward Adetunji and set piece excellence carried the hosts.

After a competitive opening half hour, the hosts took a crucial lead close to halftime when Adetunji got on the end of a free kick service from the left wing for a powerful header.

It was a goal that the Sudanese giants needed because Kenya Police came out motivated in the second half, pulling a goal back through Erick Zakayo’s sliding finish to provide some suspense.

With the visitors only one goal away from taking the lead via the away goals rule, it was Adetunji who relaxed the home support by getting on the end of Steven Abuela’s cross in the 64th minute to restore the two-goal aggregate lead. The hosts added one more goal late on to put away any doubts of a comeback from Police.

From then on the 2024-25 CAF Champions League quarterfinalists were able to hold on for the aggregate victory and qualify for the group stage again. The draw will take place on November 3 where Sudan’s representative will have high ambitions of qualifying for the knockout stages.