RS Berkane suffer first defeat, season under way in Togo
MOROCCO
Champions Renaissance Berkane suffered their first defeat of the season in the Botola Pro on Sunday, going down 1-0 to Ittihad Tanger and slipping to sixth in the early season standings. Tanger shrugged aside the 58th-minute sending off of defender Anass Lamrabata to see teenage Senegalese import Papa Magueye Gaye score the winner some 15 minutes from time. It was Berkane’s first league defeat since April and means there are now four clubs left with unbeaten records this season – leaders Wydad Casablanca, FAR Rabat, Maghreb Fes, and Raja Casablanca. Wydad are two points clear of second-placed FAR after beating bottom of the log Olympic Safi 2-1 away on Sunday with goals from South African Thembinkosi Lorch and 38-year-old veteran Nordin Amrabat. Wydad moved to 20 points with FAR on 18. They were leading Wydad at the top of the standings on goal difference before Sunday’s 0-0 draw at home to Maghreb Fes, who have 16 points in third sport. Raja are fourth with 15 points but have a game in hand. At the other end of the table, UTS Rabat remain the only side without a league victory this season after losing 2-1 at home on Saturday to Renaissance Zemamra.
TOGO
The new DI Lonato season kicked off at the weekend, and if the excitement of the opening two days is anything to go by, supporters will be in for a roller-coaster ride this campaign. Defending champions ASC Kara were 2-1 away winners at DYTO FC in Lome on Sunday, with Komi Arnaud Komlavi scoring both. He converted a penalty in the 11th minute and netted again seven minutes before half-time, with Sadath Mohamed pulling one back for the hosts. Last season’s runners-up AS Gbohloé-su won Sunday’s away trip to Sokodé, where Wakilou Kpékpassi Sama scored the only goal of the match against Unisport in the 26th minute. On Saturday, Étoile Filante, who have won seven previous titles, won 2-0 at AS OTR, while Entente Deux were 2-1 away winners at AS Binah. ASKO of Kara, the other pre-season favourites, secured a crucial victory at home against Gomido. An early goal from Franck Daniel Bille in the 3rd minute was enough to seal the win. FC Espoir pulled off an upset victory, winning 1-0 against Sémassi, one of Togo’s historic clubs promoted back to the top flight. The only goal of the game came from Koffi Mawoulikplimi Droame in the 51st minute.
DR CONGO
The Linafoot season is again divided into two groups, with TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group participants St Eloi Lupopo top of Group A despite being held to a 1-1 draw by AS Simba in Lubumbashi on Saturday. Malole could have taken over the lead on Sunday but, after three successive victories, lost their 100% record when Blessing beat them 2-1 in Kolwezi. AS Vita Club top Group B after Kabeya Kanyinda scored midway through the first half to hand them a 1-0 away win at Dauphins Noirs in Kindu on Sunday. They have 16 points from six games.
SEYCHELLES
Champions Côte d’Or bounced back on Saturday to beat newly promoted Revengers 3-0 away in Praslin after suffering a surprise setback on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season when they lost 2-1 at home to St Michel United. Bazar Brothers are the early season leaders after successive triumphs, the latest a 3-1 victory away at Anse Reunion at La Digue on Saturday. Real Maldives are also two from two after Friday’s 2-1 win over Light Stars in Mahe.