African leagues round-up: US Monastir stay unbeaten in Tunisia

TUNISIA
US Monastir kept up their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 but the goalless draw away against Metlaoui on Saturday saw them joined at the top of the standings by Stade Tunisien.
Both clubs have 30 points from 14 games as the season approaches the halfway mark. Stade, who won the last of their four Tunisian championship titles 60 years ago, were 3-1 home winners over second from bottom Tataouine with two goals from Niger international Youssouf Oumarou. But they had to come from behind after going 1-0 down midway through the first half and only equalised with less than 20 minutes left before going on to claim victory. Club Africain moved up into third place on Sunday as they drew 2-2 away at Etoile Sahel in Sousse. Club Africain were headed for defeat before Hamdi Labidi snatched a stoppage time equaliser and they now have 29 points, one more than ES Zarzis, who won 1-0 at home to Soliman on Saturday. Defending champions Esperance remain four points behind the leaders but with a game in hand as they were competing in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in Egypt on Sunday.

BOTSWANA
Modise Modipe bagged a hattrick as TAFIC handed out six of the best to take solo command of top place in the Premier League. They hammered bottom placed Union Flamingo Santos 6-0 in Francistown on Saturday to move two points ahead of Township Rollers, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Mochudi Centre Chiefs in Gaborone at the same time. Champions Jwaneng Galaxy are in third position, a further point back but remain unbeaten in their 13 matches. They won for a sixth time in the league season when they beat Extension Gunners 1-0 away in Lobatse with Thero Setsile scoring the game’s only goal. In the process, they also jumped one position ahead of Gaborone United, who slipped down to fourth after losing 4-2 away at Morupule Wanderers in Palapye on Saturday. Gunners, who have won three previous league titles, have now fallen into the bottom three. Opara United had their clash with VTM FC postponed because they were in action in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

SENEGAL
US Goree Foot’s 1-0 away win over fourth placed AS Dakar Sacre Coeur in Dakar on Saturday extended their lead in Ligue 1 to six points as Grégoire Sène headed home a 64th minute winner for coach Aly Male’s side. Goree took advantage of second placed Wally Daan being held to a goalless draw at home in Thies by Ouakam, also on Saturday. Goree are now on 23 points from 10 matches with Wally Daan on 17. Jaraaf are third on 16 points but have a game because they were 1-0 winners over Orapa United in the group phase of the Confederation Cup on Sunday. Champions Teungueth are in sixth place with 13 points from nine matches.

GABON
Mangasport are already six points clear with only seven matches played of the new Championnat DI season in Gabon with the 1-0 win away at CF Mounana in Libreville on Saturday. It took until the 87th minute, however, before Kaled Okoua grabbed the winner and moved his unbeaten side up to 17 points. Mounana are still without a win in their first seven games of the season and now sit second from bottom in the 13-team standings. Second on 11 points are Bouenguidi, who were held to a goalless draw at home in Koulamoutou on Saturday by Vatour Club. Cercle Mberi are in third spot with 10 points from six games and are still unbeaten. They won 2-0 at CS Bendje in Port-Gentil on Saturday.

ESWATINI
Royal Leopard and Green Mamba share the lead after the weekend’s resumption of matches in the Premier League. Both are on 28 points from 12 matches with unbeaten Royal Leopard beating Manzini Sea Birds 3-0 in Emkhuzweni on Saturday and Green Mamba winning 2-0 away at Mbabane Highlanders in Siteki at the same time. The two leaders have opened a five-point gap over third placed Mbabane Swallows.