RS Berkane win in Sierra Leone to move closer to TotalEnergies CAF Champions League groups

Morocco’s RS Berkane kicked off their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026-2027 campaign with an emphatic away victory over Star Sport Academy of Sierra Leone to put a foot in the group stage before the second leg next weekend.

Oussam Lamlioui scored a brace before the brake to give last season semi-finalists Berkane a commanding lead before hosting the reverse fixture. Lamlioui opened the scoring at Stade Kanyon Doe in Monrovia after 11 minutes, before doubling his side’s lead at the brink of halftime.

The second half saw no further action as the three-times CAF Confederation Cup Champions Berkane a winning start after they were given a bye from the first preliminary round. Coached by Cape Verdean Bubista, RS Berkane will now look to finish the business next weekend to shift their sights to the all-important group stage that kicks off next month.

San Pedro strikes very late to down Nouadhibou

Meanwhile in San Pedro, Ivoirian side FC San Pedro needed a deep injury time goal to beat Mauritanian visitors FC Nouadhibou 2-1 at Stade Laurent Pokou.

Abi Niambe gave the hosts an early lead after 11 minutes, but for Oumar M’Bareck to equalize for Mauritania champions six minutes from halftime.

Nouadhibou thought they had a precious away draw, but for Mouhamadou Karamoko to score the winner for the hosts in the eighth minute of injury time as San Pedro will now head to Mauritania for the reverse fixture that promises with huge excitement next weekend.

Both sides came through the first preliminary round on away goals, as San Pedro edged Nigeria’s Rivers and Nouadhibou overcame Uganda’s Vipers. They will now push once more for a place in the group stage.