The final stage of qualification for this season’s CAF Confederation Cup kicked off as clubs played their first leg matches looking to get a front foot in joining defending champions RS Berkane of Morocco in the group stage of Africa’s second-tier club competition.
A brace from Islam Issa saw 2020 finalists Pyramids F.C. of Egypt take a strong step towards the group stage following a 2-0 win away to Racing Club d’Abidjan of Côte d’Ivoire.
Zambian side Nkana F.C. extended their remarkable unbeaten home record in CAF club competitions following a 2-0 victory at home to TAS Casablanca of Morocco. Freddy Tshimenga and Obed Masumbuko scored to ensure the Kitwe-based side made it 64 games unbeaten in CAF club competitions, a run stretching all the way to 1983.
That run has seen them win 45 matches and draw 19, in addition to scoring 137 goals and conceding 38. They have kept a total of 33 clean sheets in that time.
Three-time winners CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) thumped 10-man AS Kigali (Rwanda) 4-1 with Soulah Mohammad scoring twice and Ahmad Ammar and Firas Chaouat adding a goal each.
Two-time winners Étoile Sportive du Sahel (Tunisia) edged Young Buffaloes of Eswatini 2-1 away from home while ES Sétif of Algeria prevailed against Asante Kotoko of Ghana with a similar score, also away from home.
2018 champions Raja Casablanca (Morocco) secured a 1-0 at home to US Monastir (Tunisia) as did Enyimba of Nigeria against local rivals Rivers United.
Cameroon’s Cotonsport and Senegal’s Jaraaf also defeated SONIDEP of Niger and F.C. Platinum of Zimbabwe respectively 1-0. 10-man Bouenguidi of Gabon held on for an identical win against 10-man Salitas F.C. of Burkina Faso.
Meanwhile, Batswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy were left staring at elimination from another CAF club competition by yet another South African side after going down 3-0 at home to 2015 finalists Orlando Pirates. Galaxy was eliminated from the CAF Champions League qualifiers by Pirates’ rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Kenyan league champions Gor Mahia saw their woes continue as a late winner saw them fall to a 1-0 loss at home to Zambia’s NAPSA Stars.
The other games saw Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya draw 1-1 with Motema Pembe of DR Congo while Stade Malien of Mali overcame JS Kabylie of Algeria 2-1.
The second legs will take place on February 21 with the winners advancing to this season’s group stage.
