CAF Champions League: Round-Up Of 2nd Leg Preliminaries

Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) 3 : 2 East End Lions FC (Sierra Leone)

It was a narrow escape for Esperance who were held 2-2 by the visitors from Sierra Leone through the second half into the two minutes added time before captain Michael Eneramo delivered the home crowd in Tunis with a last minute goal, qualifying the former African champions for the next round of the Orange CAF Champions League on a 5:4 aggregate.

Club Africain (Tunisia) 1 : 0 Sahel FC (Niger)

Although beaten and out, the Niger champions Sahel FC, widely regarded as minnows, proved the contrary against the 1991 African champions Club Africain in both away and return matches. They beat the Tunisians 2:1 two weeks ago and lost with just a goal on Friday at El Menzah Olympic Stadium in Tunis. Midfielder Khaled Melliti scored the winning goal of the encounter pushing Club Africain to the next round on a 2:2 aggregate.

 J.S. Kabylie (Algeria) 3 : 0 Armed Forces (Gambia)

It was one of the encounters of the weekend with the least surprise. Having lost 1:2 in Banjul, the Gambians weren’t expecting a miracle in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. The Canaries walloped their visitors with a triple, coasting to the next round on a 5:1 aggregate.

Al-Merreikh (Sudan) 3 : 1 Saint Georges (Ethiopia)

A number of sports analyst said the away draw was just a simple luck for the Ethiopians, because Al-Merreikh are a no-match to Saint Georges. In Omdurman on Saturday, the Sudanese proved this by licking their visitors nicely and securing their ticket for the next round on a 4:2 aggregate.

Recreativo do Libolo (Angola) 0 : 1 APR FC (Rwanda)

This was one of the surprises of the weekend. Widely considered as the day’s favourite, Recreativo fell in Libolo against APR FC from Rwanda, painfully crashing out of this year’s continental race for which they travelled to Turkey for preparation, not to talk of the five Brazilians imported to join the squad. APR advance on an aggregate of 3:2.

Entente Setif (Algeria) 2 : 0 Diable Noir (Congo)

When the 1988 African champions Entent Setif lost 2:3 in the away match, their coach told reporters they would repair the loss in the return leg. Two goals did that repair in Setif on Saturday afternoon, squashing the continental dreams of the Congolese and landing the Algerians in the next round on an aggregate of 4:3.

Tiko United (Cameroon) 2 : 2 Vital’O (Burundi)

This was probably one of the hottest clashes of the weekend, like in the first leg where both teams shared a 2:2 draw. The same scenario was experienced by the Cameroonian crowd in Tiko Saturday evening. A perfect aggregate of 4:4 was the score at full-time prompting a penalty shoot-out which Tiko United won 5:3, exploding joy with local fans and qualifying the Cameroonian club for the next round.

Al Ittihad (Libya) 6 : 0 AS Tempete MOCAF (Central Africa)

In the away match Al Ittihad were men, but in the return leg they turned giants, crushing the Central Africans by one of the biggest scores of the weekend 6:0. The Libyans move confidently into the next round on an 8: 1 aggregate.

Ismaily (Egypt) 2 : 0 Sofakapa FC (Kenya)

Flying down to Ismailia, the Kenyan visitors knew they were out for a no-easy battle, having escaped the Samba Boys in Kenya on a goalless draw two weeks ago. And so it went, Ismaily handled Sofakapa FC with little mercy, bracing in two neat goals which came from captain Mohamed Homos and Abdallah Said before the middle of second half. Ismaily move on with a 2:0 aggregate.

SuperSport United (South Africa) 2 : 2 Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland)

Still feasting their third consecutive league title, SuperSport were cowered by a 2-2 draw against visiting Swazi champions Mbabane Swallows. Brian Umony opened the scorings in the 38^th minute but Cicce Bougonta levelled for the visitors after the break. Hope for victory soared for the hosts when second half substitute Brent Carelse shook the Swazis’ back net but gloom fell back with a stunning equaliser from Mfankile Nzimande. However, the Matsatsantsa progress with an aggregate of 5:3.

Difaa El Jadidi (Morocco) 3 : 0 Balantas Mansoa (Guinea Bissau)

In El Jadidi, Morocco’s other representative Difaa, ground their visitors whom they drew 0:0 in Bissau a fortnight ago. No solutions for the Bissau’s champions to overturn or even reduce the 3 zero concession. They back out of the continental show allowing Difaa El Jadidi to advance with an aggregate of 3:0.

Ferroviario de Maputo (Mozambique) 4 : 1 AC de Mitsamiouli (Comores)

Many seemingly knew the outcome of this match even before it was played. The Mozambican champions Ferroviario came out with swollen chests having defeated their visitors 3:5 in the first leg. It was only a matter of how many goals were needed to confirm their superiority over the Comorians. Ferroviario settled on four goals with a gift of one for their visitors.

Asante Kotoko (Ghana) 2 : 0 ASC Linguère (Senegal)

Ghana’s flag-bearers and two-time African champions Asante Kotoko did their best to stay on boat by overturning the 2:0 loss from the first leg, but the 2:2 aggregate pushed the encounter into penalty shoot-out with Isaac Amoako and Ofosu Appiah missing their kicks and the Senegalese netting their first four, which handed them a well-earned ticket for the next round.

Ajesaia (Madagascar) 1: 3 US Tamponnaise (Reunion)

At the 20,000-packed Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo on Saturday, the Malagasy champions Ajesaia disappointed their highly motivated fans with a 1:3 loss which worsened the 1:2 loss from the first leg. The frustrated fans poured their venom on the Seychelles referee whom they said blew in favour of the visitors. But match Commissioner Omar Ben Hassan Ali, told Lexpressemada that “The referee officiated very well, but don’t forget that they are humans too, and human beings are liable to mistakes.” US Tamponnaise qualify for the next round with a 5:2 aggregate.

Raja Casablanca (Morocco) 1 : 1 Fello Star de Labé (Guinea)

A first leg 3:1 lead made thing easier for the 1989, 1997 and 1999 CAF Champions League champions Raja against visiting Fello Stars. The 1:1 draw lifts the Moroccan over to the next round with an aggregate of 4:2.

FC St Eloi Lupopo (RD Congo) 1 : 0 Young Africans (Tanzania)

The Young Africans of Tanzania couldn’t amend their shocking 2:3 defeat at home in the first leg. St. Eloi halted their continental adventure with a simple 1: 0 win which qualifies the Congolese for the next round on an aggregate of 4:2.

Zanaco FC (Zambia) 4 : 0 Revenue Authority SC (Uganda)

Zambia’s champions Zanaco successfully overturned their 1:0 loss with a whooping 4:0 against visiting Uganda’s champions Revenue Authority. Zanaco move on to the next round with an aggregate of 4:1.

Bayelsa United (Nigeria) 2 : 2 Gazelle FC (Chad)

Nigeria’s other representative fell short of heading forth to the next round. Gazelle FC, who won the away match with a lone goal, held their hosts to a 2:2 draw, forcing a passage for themselves into the next round with an aggregate of 3:2.

ASFA-Yenega (Burkina Faso) 4 : 1 AS Stade Mandji (Gabon)

Little surprise here as the Burkinabe, coming with a 2:0 lead from the first leg, knew they would crucify their visitors in Ouagadougou. A 4:1 scoreline did that job, advancing ASFA Yenega to the next round with an aggregate of 6:1.

Ahly Benghazi (Libya) 0 : 0 Djoliba AC (Mali)

Ahly Benghazi crashed out of the CAF’s race following a weak 0:0 draw before their home fans, which puts the visitors from Mali ahead for the next round with an aggregate of 1:0.

Athlético Petroléos (Angola) 6 : 1 Ela Nguema (Equatorial Guinea)

Too hot to hold, too cold to handle for Ela Eguema as their hosts A. Petroléos, who had defeated them 3:2 in the first leg, came out spitting fire. The Angolans whitewashed their visitors 6:1 with little space for breathing. Athlético Petroléos advance with an aggregate of 9:3.

Gunners FC (Zimbabwe) 4 : 0 Mafunzo FC (Zanzibar)

Zimbabwe’s other representatives Gunners successfully booked their place in the next round of the CAF champions league with a 4:0 win over their visitors Mafunzo whom they also defeated in the first leg. Gunners FC proudly advance with an aggregate of 6:1.

Orlando Pirates (South Africa) 2 : 2 Gaborone United (Botswana)

A black Sunday for the 1995 African champions Orlando Pirates at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Buccaneers were jinxed by the visiting minnows from Botswana, Gaborone United, who waited till the last five minutes of the game to invoke their gods. Orlando’s Katlego Mashego headed home an own goal in the 86^th minute reducing the South Africans enduring 2:0 lead; and in the 88^th minute a header from second half substitute Stephen Maposa levelled the score line at 2:2 to the advantage of the visitors who held the Bucs to a goalless draw in the first leg. Gaborone move on to the next round.

Curepipe Starlight (Mauritius) 3 : 1 La Passe (Seychelles)

Losing 0:1 in the first leg warned the Mauritius champions Curepipe Starlight not to misbehave in the return match or face the music. They heeded and uprooted Seychelles representatives from their way into the next round with an aggregate of 3:2.

Fixtures for the next round (1/16) slated for 19, 20, 21 of March (first leg) and 2, 3, 4, April (return leg).

APR FC (Rwanda) - Tout Puissant Mazembe (RDC)
Djoliba (Mali) - ASC Linguère (Senegal)
Ismaily (EGY) - Stade Tamponnaise (Reunion)
Africa Sports (Ivory Coast) - Al Hilal (Soudan)
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) - Petro Atletico (Angola)
Club Africain (Tunisia) - JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Gazelle FC (Chad) - Al-Merreikh (Sudan)
Esperance Tunis (Tunisia) - ASFA Yennenga (Burkina Faso)
Curepipe Starlight (Mauritius ) – Gaborone United (Botswana)
St Eloi Lupopo (RDC) - Dynamos (Zimbabwe)
Gunners (Zimbabwe) - Al Ahly (EGY)
Al-Ittihad (Libya) - Difaa al-Jadida (Morocco)
Zanaco (Zambia) - ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast)
US Douala (Cameroon) - Entente Setif (Algeria)
Tiko Utd (Cameroon) - Heartland (Nigeria)
SuperSport Utd (South Africa) - Ferroviario Maputo (Mozambique)