Yanga thrash CFFA 4-0 to close in on TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage
Tanzania's Young Africans took a significant step towards the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 with an emphatic 4-0 away victory over Madagascar's CFFA in the first leg of their Second Preliminary Round tie on Saturday.
Four different players scored for the Tanzanian giants, who delivered a dominant away attacking performance to establish a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture.
Cheikh Touré opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Albert Kangwanda doubled the visitors' lead eight minutes later, giving Yanga a comfortable 2-0 advantage at half-time.
The visitors continued their impressive display after the interval, with Mudathir Yahya adding a third goal in the 54th minute to put the contest firmly beyond the hosts.
Just five minutes later, Maxi Nzengeli struck in the 59th minute to complete the scoring and underline Young Africans' superiority.
The comprehensive victory leaves CFFA facing a daunting challenge in the return leg, with the Madagascar side needing to overturn a four-goal deficit to keep their continental ambitions alive.
Young Africans, meanwhile, will return to Tanzania confident of completing qualification for the 16-team group stage of Africa's premier club competition.
TP Mazembe held by Club Africain in Lubumbashi
Elsewhere, DR Congo giants TP Mazembe were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia's Club Africain in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 Second Preliminary Round tie on Saturday.
Kazema Baso gave the five-time African champions the lead at the Kamalondo Stadium in Lubumbashi.
However, Alain Kante equalised just a minute later to restore parity for the Tunisian visitors.
Mazembe dominated much of the second half and created several scoring opportunities but struggled to break down Club Africain's determined defence.
The result leaves the tie evenly balanced, with the Congolese side unable to secure a home advantage despite their attacking pressure.
Both teams will now turn their attention to the decisive return leg at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès on Sunday, 25 October, with a group-stage place at stake.
Moremi fires Orlando Pirates past African Stars
Meanwhile, South Africa's Orlando Pirates secured a valuable 1-0 away victory over Namibian champions African Stars in the first leg of their tie on Saturday.
Tshepang Moremi scored the only goal of the encounter in the 78th minute to hand the visitors a crucial advantage.
The late breakthrough proved decisive as Pirates claimed victory on Namibian soil.
African Stars were unable to find an equaliser, leaving the South African side with a slender lead in the two-legged contest.
The result strengthens Pirates' hopes of progressing to the group stage of Africa's premier club competition.
African Stars must now overturn the deficit in the return leg in South Africa to keep their continental campaign alive.