Category: Sport News

East End Lions Hold AFAD to 1–1 Draw in CAF Confederation Cup
by Football Sierra Leone

East End Lions Hold AFAD to 1–1 Draw in CAF Confederation Cup

East End Lions secured a valuable 1–1 draw against AFAD Djékanou in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round in Abidjan.

One of Sierra Leone’s most decorated sides found themselves trailing in the opening half after AFAD took the lead into the break. However, East End Lions responded strongly after halftime, showing determination and composure to fight their way back into the contest.  

Saymah Kamara proved decisive, scoring the equaliser to give The Killers renewed hope ahead of the return leg.  

With the tie delicately poised, East End Lions will now turn their attention to the second leg at the SKD Complex in Liberia, where they will aim to secure victory and advance to the next round.

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Strong starts for Al Hilal and Mangasport in the CAF Champions League

Sudanese team Al Hilal Omdurman and Gabon’s Mangasport both won strongly in the First Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 on Saturday. Other matches are still closely contested as the second legs approach next weekend.

Al Hilal won 2-0 against Burundi’s Aigle Noir, giving them confidence for the return match at home. Gabon’s Mangasport won 3-1 against Namibia’s African Stars, which provides them a good advantage for the next leg.

Club Africain from Tunisia will carry a narrow 1-0 lead to Mali for their match against Djoliba. CFFA from Madagascar also heads to Lesotho with a 2-0 advantage after defeating Lijabatho. South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu won 1-0 against Somalia’s Heegan in another home match.

Senegal’s Teungueth secured a key 1-0 away win against FC Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau, placing them in a good position for the return leg at home.

Vipers and FC Nouadhibou in Uganda finished their match in a 1-1 draw, meaning they have everything to play for in the next meeting in Mauritania. Côte d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro also drew 1-1 with Nigerian Rivers United, giving Rivers the home advantage in the second leg.

Sudan’s Al Merreikh won 1-0 against Zambia’s Power Dynamos but needs to perform better in the away leg. Gaborone United drew 1-1 with Tanzanian team Young Africans, leaving the tie open for the next match in Dar es Salaam.

Two matches ended without goals: Chad’s Aiglons against Ethiopia’s Sidaama Buna, and Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy versus Medina United from The Gambia. These draws keep the contests wide open.

The return legs for the First Preliminary Round will happen from September 11-13. The winners will move on to the Second Preliminary Round as teams vie for spots in the group stage.

Friday’s results

  • Al-Swehly (Libya) 1-0 KVZ (Zanzibar)
  • AS Port (Djibouti) 1-2 Zamalek (Egypt)
  • JS Saoura (Algeria) 1-0 Horoya (Guinea)
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Saturday’s results

  • Aigle Noir (Burundi) 0-2 Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)
  • El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) 1-0 Heegan (Somalia)
  • CFFA (Madagascar) 2-0 Lijabatho (Lesotho)
  • Aiglons (Chad) 0-0 Sidaama Buna (Ethiopia)
  • Mangasport (Gabon) 3-1 African Stars (Namibia)
  • FC Canchungo (Guinea-Bissau) 0-1 Teungueth (Senegal)
  • Vipers (Uganda) 1-1 FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
  • FC San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire) 1-1 Rivers United (Nigeria)
  • Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) 0-0 Medina United (The Gambia)
  • Al Merreikh (Sudan) 1-0 Power Dynamos (Zambia)
  • Gaborone United (Botswana) 1-1 Young Africans (Tanzania)
  • Club Africain (Tunisia) 1-0 Djoliba (Mali)
by Alusine Rehme Wilson

Star Sport Academy Forced to Share Spoils with Medina United

Star Sport Academy Football Club marked their CAF Champions League debut with a barren draw against Medina FC of Gambia in the first leg of this year’s preliminary qualifying round at Southern Arena in Bo on Saturday.

The Sierra Leonean side, coached by experienced tactician Amidu Karim, created several chances but were unable to break through a disciplined Medina FC defence, leaving the two-legged tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return leg in The Gambia.

However, Medina FC suffered a late setback when head coach Ebrima Gatta was sent off for unsporting behaviour in the second half.

Although disappointed by the result, Karim praised his players for their disciplined performance and fighting spirit, insisting that his side remains confident of progressing to the second qualifying round.

Star Sports Academy will now need a stronger attacking display in the return leg to keep their historic continental campaign alive.

Coach Amidu Karim Confident of Positive Start, Seeks Fan Support
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Coach Amidu Karim Confident of Positive Start, Seeks Fan Support

Star Sport Academy’s head coach Amidu Karim is feeling optimistic about tomorrow’s CAF Champions League clash against Gambia’s Medina United at the Southern Arena in Bo City, Sierra Leone.

He acknowledges the visitors are a strong side, but he is hopeful that his team will secure a victory and has urged home fans to rally behind them. During the pre-match press conference, Coach Karim mentioned that his squad is well-prepared after a challenging preseason.

“Knowing we are entering the competition, we have studied our opponents to identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to exploit them,” Coach Karim stated. Medina United is not to be underestimated; they are a formidable team.

Being mentally and physically prepared to play at home in the first leg is a significant advantage, and we anticipate the fans will come out to support the team.

He continued, “Every game brings its own pressures, especially since we aspire to win. Medina plays quality football, presenting a challenge for us, but we are ready to face it.”

Team captain James Kai Yamba assured supporters that achieving victory is our objective and that the team feels confident going into this crucial first leg of the CAF Champions League.

“We’re playing on home turf. The fans and the nation expect us to perform well and achieve the win we need. Everyone has faith in us, so we must use that confidence wisely.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM on Saturday at the Southern Province Stadium in Bo City.

Both teams are getting ready for their first match in the continental stage.
Both teams are getting ready for their first match in the continental stage.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

ES Zarzis make a strong CAF Confederation start with a win over Diambars

ES Zarzis made a strong return to continental competition after 20 years. They came back from behind to beat Senegal’s Diambars 3-1 in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round on Friday. This was their first appearance in the competition since 2006.

Diambars surprised the home team by scoring first in the 13th minute. However, Zarzis equalised just before halftime, with Khalil Al-Qassab scoring in the 35th minute.

Al-Qassab then scored again 11 minutes into the second half, giving Zarzis the lead. Samba added a third goal in the 70th minute, securing a two-goal advantage for Zarzis before the return leg.

This win gives Zarzis a good start as they aim to make a mark in African club football after a long absence. In other matches, several games ended with close scores. Chad’s AS PSI and Côte d’Ivoire’s CO Korhogo played to a 2-2 draw, keeping their matchup open.

Cameroon’s Panthère drew 1-1 with Rwanda’s Rayon Sport, while Mauritius’s Port Louis also ended 1-1 against Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy.

Sudan’s Hilal Alsahil won one of the day’s matches, defeating Ethiopian debutants Welwalo Adigrat 2-1.

The preliminary round runs from September 4 to 6, with return legs scheduled for the following week as teams aim to move towards the group stage. The 2026/27 competition includes 17 debutants alongside established clubs, and the opening round has already shown many closely contested games.

Friday’s results

  • AS PSI (Chad) 2-2 CO Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • ES Zarzis (Tunisia) 3-1 Diambars (Senegal)
  • Panthère (Cameroon) 1-1 Rayon Sport (Rwanda)
  • Port Louis (Mauritius) 1-1 Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
  • Hilal Alsahil (Sudan) 2-1 Welwalo Adigrat (Ethiopia)