TotalEnergies CAF Champions League - Famous victory for Swehly, holders Sundowns goalless, ASEC holds MAS late
Libya’s Swehly produced a famous win when they defeated four-time champions Esperance of Tunisia, while Guinea’s Horoya defeated Sudan Al Merrikh, as title holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa started their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title defence campaign with a goalless draw at Angola’s Wiliete SC.
The Sunday games of the Second Preliminary Round first leg saw Ivoirian ASEC Mimosas scoring deep into injury time to hold Morocco’s MAS Fes, while Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive put a leg in the group stage with an away 2-0 victory over Senegal’s Tengueth.
Holders start goalless
After receiving a Bye from the first preliminary round, title holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa started their campaign when they played visitors to Angola’s Wiliete SC at Estadio Nacional de Tundavala in Lubango.
It was a story of scarce goal scoring chances that ended in a goalless draw, to leave the door open when Sundowns host the reverse fixture in Pretoria next weekend, with a place in the group stage at stake.
Horoya emerge victorious at home
Guinea’s Horoya were the victorious side over Sudanese giants Al Merrikh in a highly anticipated fixture that took place at Stade de 28 Septembre in Conakry.
Yakhouba Gnagna Barry scored on the stroke of halftime to give the Guinean champions a lead that they preserved till the final whistle. They will now look to defend it in the away leg as both sides look forward to reaching the prestigious group stage.
Swehly stun giants Esperance
Libya’s Swehly produced a famous victory when they stunned four-time champions and Tunisian giants Esperance 1-0 at Misurata Stadium. The all North-African clash was up to expectations, and both sides had their scoring chances over the game.
Ayoub Ayed scored what proved to be the game’s lone goal after 64 minutes to hand Swehly a valuable lead that they will take to Tunis next weekend. Meanwhile, last season’s semi-finalists Esperance will try to turn the table to continue their quest towards a fifth CAF Champions League star.
Colombe strike hard in Dakar
Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive put one leg in the group stage after they returned from Senegal with a huge 2-0 victory over hosts Tengueth FC at Stade Leopold Senghor in Dakar.
Jean Hughes Eyango Priso gave Colombe Sportive the lead after 13 minutes, and Gambia’s Adam Musah doubled the score one minute after halftime, as the Cameroonian visitors are now highly favourites to reach the group stage when they play hosts in the 2nd leg next weekend.
ASEC scores very late to hold Moroccan champions
Ivoirian giants ASEC Mimosas scored deep into injury time to hold Morocco’s champions MAS Fes to a 1-1 draw at Stade d’Honneur in Meknes.
Noureddine Oussama gave hosts MAS Fes the lead after 31 minutes, and last season’s “Botola” champions thought they had started their campaign with a win, but for Bamba Souhalio to score three minutes into second half injury time to earn ASEC Mimosas a valuable away draw.
The encounter will now go to the wire next weekend when both sides renew their clash in Abidjan as they seek a place in the 16-teams group stage.