CAF Champions League: Simba, Orlando Pirates and JS Kabylie move closer to final round of qualifying

The first qualifying round from the 2025-26 CAF Champions League is in full flight with eleven first leg clashes in Africa’s premier club competition on Saturday. There were few surprises with top African clubs like Orlando Pirates, Petro de Luanda, JS Kabylie and Simba SC all winning to set up favorable second leg matches next week.

In Botswana, Tanzanian giants Simba SC joined rivals Young Africans by winning away from home in the first leg with a 1-0 result over Gaborone United at the Botswana National Stadium. Congolese forward Elie Mpanzu headed in a driven cross from right back Shomari Kapombe in the first half for the only goal of the match.

Top clubs meet expectations in CAF Champions League

Earlier on Saturday, Petro de Luanda and Orlando Pirates each earned expected routine victories, each by a 3-0 score. Angolan champions Petro had an easy time against Mauritian side Cercle de Joachim while South African giants Pirates did their damage in the second half against Lesotho’s Lioli FC, who hosted their home match in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

North African clubs, as expected, performed well in the early stages of the competition. JS Kabylie showed their class in Ghana with a routine 2-0 victory over Bibiani GoldStars (video below), taking a sizeable advantage back home to Algeria. Algerian champions MC Alger could not find a way past Liberia’s FC Fassell but with a 0-0 result in the first leg played in Liberia, MCA are heavy favorites to finish the job back in Algiers.

Libya’s Al Hilal Benghazi won 1-0 at home against Guinean giants Horoya AC but still have plenty of work to do when Horoya host the second leg in Conakry.

More East African clubs joined Simba and Yanga in the winning column. Ethiopian Insurance eased to a 2-0 victory over Zanzibar’s Mlandege while Kenya Police defeated Mogadishu City of Somalia, who hosted the first leg in Nairobi where the two teams will face off again in a week for Police FC’s home leg.

Zambia’s Power Dynamos scored early to secure a 1-0 home victory over legendary Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas. A strong performance keeps the Zambian club in contention ahead of an enticing second leg clash in Abidjan next week.

Two first leg clashes ended 0-0 on Saturday along with MC Alger’s scoreless draw with Fassell. Burkinabe champions Rahimo FC were held by Gabon’s Mangasport in Ouagadougou while it was a disappointing result in Kinshasa for rising Congolese club Aigles du Congo, who must get a positive result in Nigeria after being held by Rivers United.

Even more duels await on Sunday with CAF Confederation Cup and Moroccan champions RS Berkane in action as well as fellow top Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat and Tunisian champions Espérance ST. On Friday, three first leg matches took place with Tanzanian champions Young Africans winning as well as Uganda’s Vipers SC while Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli were held to a scoreless draw by Dadjè FC of Benin.

First Round, First Leg Results

Saturday

Ethiopian Insurance (ETH) 2-0 Mlandege (ZAN)

Lioli FC (LES) 0-3 Orlando Pirates (RSA)

Mogadishu City (SOM) 1-3 Kenya Police (KEN)

Power Dynamos (ZAM) 1-0 ASEC Mimosas (CIV)

Cercle de Joachim (MUS) 0-3 Petro de Luanda (ANG)

Aigles du Congo (DRC) 0-0 Rivers United (NGA)

Bibiani GoldStars (GHA) 0-2 JS Kabylie (ALG)

FC Fassell (LBR) 0-0 MC Alger (ALG)

Rahimo FC (BFA) 0-0 Mangasport (GAB)

Gaborone United (BWA) 0-1 Simba SC (TZA)

Al Hilal Benghazi (LBY) 1-0 Horoya AC (GUI)

Friday

Dadjè FC (BEN) 0-0 Al Ahli Tripoli (LBY)

Wiliete SC (ANG) 0-3 Young Africans (TZA)

African Stars (NAM) 0-1 Vipers SC (UGA)