CAF Champions League Recap: North African giants in good position; Pirates in trouble

The CAF Champions League is in the midst of its final qualifying stage with Africa’s top clubs beginning their push to reach the group stage over the weekend. Orlando Pirates and Young Africans were among the favorites who encountered difficulty while Mamelodi Sundowns, JS Kabylie, Espérance Tunis and Al Ahly are in strong positions for their respective second leg clashes next weekend.

Last season’s finalists Mamelodi Sundowns showed their class in a dominant 5-1 thrashing of Nigerian champions Remo Stars. Five different scorers contributed for South Africa’s dominant club who are in more than great shape ahead of the second leg back home, where a group stage place is all but secured at this point.

But for Orlando Pirates, semifinalists in this competition last season, there is a lot of work to do after the Bucs were stunned 0-3 in the Democratic Republic of Congo by hosts Saint-Éloi Lupopo. A late meltdown moved the deficit from a manageable one goal to three goals with Pirates now having little margin for error back home in the second leg.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat bounced back from a first half concession to halt the momentum of Guinean giants Horoya AC with a 1-1 result away from home. It was a similar story with Algerian champions MC Alger, who found a late goal from a set piece to draw 1-1 in Cameroon against Colombe Sportive.

Joining Mamelodi Sundowns in victory away from home was Zambia’s Power Dynamos, who defeated Ugandan champions Vipers SC 2-1 and are making progress in their push to return Zambia to the group stage of Africa’s top club competition. Tanzania’s Simba SC also won away with a comfortable 3-0 result in Eswatini against Nsingizini Hotspurs while Algeria’s JS Kabylie dominated in Tunisia against US Monastir with the same result.

Al Ahly and Espérance Tunis, two of Africa’s most successful clubs with a combined total of sixteen CAF Champions League titles, did not dominate their opponents but did enough on the road. Both secured 1-0 results against scrappy opposition to leave themselves ahead when the second legs kick off at home.

Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman won 1-0 on Friday at Kenya Police, while Black Bulls of Mozambique and Malawi’s Silver Strikers won at home with 1-0 results. For Silver Strikers, their surprise victory left Young Africans coach Romain Folz without a job at the Tanzanian champions soon after the full time whistle.

The CAF Champions League will continue with plenty to decide in the final qualifying round second legs next weekend. Reigning champions Pyramids FC and also CAF Confederation Cup champions RS Berkane will begin their CAF Champions League final qualifying stage clashes next weekend after taking part in the CAF Super Cup on Saturday.

CAF Champions League: Second Round, First Leg Results

FC Nouadhibou (MRT) 1-1 Stade Malien (MLI)

Horoya AC (GUI) 1-1 AS FAR Rabat (MAR)

Vipers SC (UGA) 1-2 Power Dynamos (ZAM)

Remo Stars (NGA) 1-5 Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)

Nsingizini Hotspurs (ESW) 0-3 Simba SC (TZA)

Colombe Sportive (CMR) 1-1 MC Alger (ALG)

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

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

Rahimo FC (BFA) 0-1 Espérance Tunis (TUN)

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

Silver Strikers (MWI) 1-0 Young Africans (TZA)

Black Bulls (MOZ) 1-0 Rivers United (NGA)

US Monastir (TUN) 0-3 JS Kabylie (ALG)

Police FC (KEN) 0-1 Al Hilal Omdurman (SDN)

Ethiopian Insurance (ETH) vs. Pyramids FC (EGY)- Will begin October 26

Al Ahli Tripoli (LBY) vs. RS Berkane (MAR)- Will begin October 26