CAF Champions League: African giants in favorable position

The CAF Champions League completed nearly all of the first leg clashes from the first qualifying round over the weekend with few surprises. Established titans of African club football like Esperance Sportive de Tunis (video below), Stade Malien, AS FAR Rabat and US Monastir all secured favorable first leg results from Sunday’s action.

Click here to read all about the matches from Saturday and Friday in the CAF Champions League.

Esperance had an easy time in Niger against AS FAN, cruising to a 3-0 victory away from home without any issues. The Tunisian giants were joined by fellow Tunisian club US Monastir, Mali’s Stade Malien and Nigerian champions Remo Stars in achieving lopsided results to all but ensure their passage to the final round of qualifying.

CAF Confederation Cup champions from last season, RS Berkane, encountered stiff resistance in Togo where the Moroccan league champions had to come back from a goal down to draw hosts ASC Kara. 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) top scorer Oussama Lamlioui scored the equalizer (video below) to leave the Orange Boys in a strong enough position before the second leg back home.

There were a large amount of draws in tense first legs. Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman had a difficult time in Juba against heavy underdogs Jamus and settled for a 0-0 draw. The same result occurred in four other first leg matches as well.

The second legs will take place next weekend. There are two ties that have yet to begin with DR Congo’s Saint-Éloi Lupopo set to host the first leg against Sudan’s Al Merreikh next Friday while defending Champions League winners Pyramids FC of Egypt begin against Rwanda’s APR FC with the first leg on October 1 after Pyramids take part in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

CAF Champions League First Round Results (1st Leg)

Sunday

Elgeco Plus (MDG) 1-1 Silver Strikers (MWI)

Aigle Noir (BDI) 0-0 ASAS (DJI)

Colombe Sportive (CMR) 0-0 ASC Jaraaf (SEN)

Jamus (SSD) 0-0 Al Hilal Omdurman (SDN)

Fundacion Bata (EQG) 0-0 FC Nouadhibou (MRT)

Tempete MOCAF (CAR) 0-0 Stade Malien (MLI)

AS FAN (NER) 0-3 Esperance ST (TUN)

AC Leopard (COG) 0-0 Black Bulls (MOZ)

ASC Kara (TOG) 1-1 RS Berkane (MAR)

East End Lions (SLE) 0-4 US Monastir (TUN)

Remo Stars (NGA) 4-0 Zilimadjou (COM)

Simba Bhora (ZIM) 1-0 Nsingizini Hotspurs (ESW)

Real de Banjul (GAM) 0-2 AS FAR Rabat (MAR)

Saturday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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