Category: Football Africa

Hosts Senegal and Gambia Record wins in U17 WAFU Openers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Hosts Senegal and Gambia Record wins in U17 WAFU Openers

Senegal and The Gambia both won their opening matches in the WAFU U17 tournament. The Gambia defeated Sierra Leone U-17, 4-1, in Dakar on Monday.

Sierra Leone took the lead with a goal from Osman Bangura in the 3rd minute. However, The Gambia quickly equalised when Alieu Saine scored two penalties in the 9th and 13th minutes, making the score 2-1.

Sharif Touray then increased The Gambia’s lead to 3-1 in the 20th minute, and Muhammed Jatta scored in the 75th minute to secure the 4-1 victory for The Gambia.

Both The Gambia and Senegal have three points in Group A, but Senegal is at the top of the group due to goal difference after beating Mauritania 4-0 earlier on Monday.

In Group B, there are now only three teams: Guinea, Liberia, and Cape Verde. Guinea-Bissau was disqualified after failing MRI tests. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

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 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)
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zamalek, JS Saoura Start CAF Champions League Campaigns with Wins

Egyptian side Zamalek defeated Djibouti’s AS Port 2-1 in Cairo in the first leg of the first qualifying round of the CAF Champions League, beginning its bid for a sixth title.

Mohamed Shehata opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Angolan forward Chico Banza doubled Zamalek’s lead with a header in the 37th minute.

AS Port, making its debut in the competition, pulled one back through Mahdi Hussein Mahbi in the 82nd minute but could not find an equaliser.

Both legs will be played in Cairo because Djibouti lacks a stadium that meets international standards. The return match is scheduled for September 12.

Zamalek last won the Champions League in 2002. It has since reached two finals, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 and Al Ahly in 2020.

Elsewhere, Algeria’s JS Saoura beat Guinea’s Horia 1-0, while Libya’s Asswehly defeated Zanzibar’s KVZ by the same score.

by Football Sierra Leone

Amadou Diallo FC Ready for East End Lions’ CAF Interclub First Leg

Amadou Diallo Plateau Football Academy, aka AFAD, based in Abidjan-Plateau,  are getting ready to face the East End Lions of Sierra Leone as they make their return to African elite club football.

This Sunday, September 6, they will host one of Sierra Leone’s most decorated clubs at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Stadium. This match is the first leg of the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Days before the game, AFAD’s coach, Firmin Koffi, shows calm and determination. He believes the team can succeed in their first challenge in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“We know we’ll face a team that plays direct football with intensity,” says Koffi, highlighting the importance of a strong start in the two-legged tie. “It’s crucial to perform well at home; we aim for a solid lead, ideally 3-0.”

Koffi draws confidence from the team’s preparation, with five wins, five draws, and four losses to their name. He notes that all injured players have returned, and the core of last season’s squad is intact.

AFAD approaches their first African match with seriousness and ambition, aiming to take the lead before travelling to Sierra Leone. They will need strength on the field and support from fans.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone Premier League side has arrived safely in Ivory Coast for the match.