African leagues round-up: Wydad Casablanca win in Morocco
African football is alive every weekend with exciting league action around the continent and our weekly round-up of league action highlights a selection of the most important results.
MOROCCO
Renaissance Zemamra and Wydad Casablanca both won away at the weekend to move up the Botola Pro table but Renaissance Berkane still enjoy the lead in the standings and with games in hand. Zemamra won 1-0 away at bottom placed Chabab Mohammedia on Saturday, as they took the lead in the 24th minute through Ishak Zidani, and are second with 37 points from 19 games. That is two behind Berkane, who have played 16 games, because of their involvement in the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. Chabab have only collected 3 points after 19 matches and not recorded a single victory in five months as they took destined for relegation. Wydad moved into third spot after a third successive victory, this time away over Difaa El Jadida on Sunday. Dutch-born Mohammed Rayhi and South African striker Cassius Mailula scored on either side of the break for Wydad, who went ahead of Maghreb Fes, who drew 2-2 at Hassania Agadir on Sunday. Berkane will host last season’s runners-up FAR Rabat on Thursday after the visitors return from their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League tie in Pretoria against Mamelodi Sundowns, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
KENYA
Ryan Ogam kept up his goalscoring prowess in the Premier League with his 15th goal of the season to take Tusker to the top of the table with a 2-1 win over defending champions Gor Mahia on Sunday. Ogam opened the scoring in the 50th minute but Austin Odhiambo equalised 19 minutes later with a solo effort. The winner came in stoppage time as Dennis Wanjala converted a freekick, setting off protests and a chaotic end to the game at the Kenyatta Stadium. Tusker are now on 33 points from 17 matches while Gor Mahia are fourth on 24 points from 14 games. Kenya Police extended their unbeaten run to eight matches under their Burundian coach Etienne Ndayarigije as they beat Murang’a Seal away on Sunday. Clinton Kinanga got the game’s only goal as Police are now on 30 points from 16 matches. Kenya Commercial Bank missed out on a chance to share the lead but sit third on 28 points after a 1-1 draw with Nairobi City Stars.
ETHIOPIA
Hadiya Hoseana took over at the top of the Premier League on Monday as a 22nd minute goal from Eyob Alemayehu gave them a 1-0 win over champions Ethiopia Nigd Park in Adama. Hadiya Hoseana advanced to 26 points from 13 matches, one more than Mekelakeya who had been ahead in a congested race before the weekend’s matches. Kedus Giorgis, who have won titles in Ethiopia than any other club, are now third after success in Adama on Saturday over Dire Dawa Kenema. Both goals came in an eight-minute spell near the start of the second half with a headed goal from Ismael Abdulganiyu and then a striker from Fitsum Tilahun.
MAURITANIA
Previously joint leaders, Nouadhibou and Nouakchott King’s are now separated by two points after Nouadhibou won 2-0 at N’Zidane in Atar on Sunday while King’s played out a goalless draw with Garde Nationale at the same time. Al Hassan Eid and Al Hassan Tagdi were the scorers for Nouadhibou, now on 29 points from 15 games. They are in search of an eighth successive Super D1 title. Third placed Chemal are on 25 points but only play their 15th match on Wednesday.
NAMIBIA
Khomas Nampol and Young African are joint leaders in the Premier Football League after Sunday’s set of matches which saw Nampol held to a goalless draw at African Stars but unbeaten Young African got the better of Young Brazilians 1-0. Young African have also played eight games to the nine completed by Khomas Nampol. All the clubs also played a round of matches on Saturday with Young African and Khomas Nampol going head-to-head and playing out a 0-0 draw.