Edet Ikotidem
Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca clinched an important win in Niger, while Young Africans delivered an impressive 4-0 away victory against FC Vital’O in the first leg of the initial preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Saturday.
TotalEnergies CAF Championship
In Uyo on Sunday, Enugu Rangers International secured a narrow 1-0 victory over U.S. Zilimadjou. The second leg of this clash is set for Friday, August 23, at the same venue, with both teams aiming to advance to the next round.
Also read: Rangers’ Return to Continental Football, Face U.S. Zilimadjou in Uyo
The first-leg matches of the preliminary round in the CAF interclub competitions were characterized by intense competition and fierce rivalries. Clubs across the continent displayed significant determination as they pursued their aspirations for continental glory and the dream of lifting the African title.
In other fixtures, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia achieved a 2-1 away win against Burundi’s FC Vital’O, while Namibia’s Africa Stars earned a 1-0 victory over Gaborone Galaxy of Botswana. Raja Casablanca overcame Garde Nationale 2-1 in Niger, with Saber Bougrine putting the Moroccans ahead in the 20th minute. Although the hosts equalized in the 37th minute, Marouane Zila restored Raja’s lead in the 66th minute, securing the win.
The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup provided equally exciting action, with high-scoring encounters such as Alizé Fort’s dominant 7-0 victory over Black Bulls Maputo. Meanwhile, Union Touarga and Racing Abidjan played out a goalless draw.
In another notable result, CS Constantine defeated Rwandan club Police FC 2-0 at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine. Ibrahim Deeb opened the scoring from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, and Nigerian player Tosin added a second goal in the 78th minute, ensuring victory for the Algerian team.
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