Algeria’s CR Belouizdad FC became the first side to secure a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group Stages on Friday evening, after a dramatic tie against Burkinabe side AS Douanes in Algiers.
Belouizdad had to dig deep against the west Africans who came into the clash at the back of a 1-0 first leg win at home.
With home ground to their advantage, the Algerians grabbed the lead with a wonder-strike by Abderrahmane Mesiane just before the break to level the aggregate score.
Coming back from the break, both sides had a go at each other in desperate search of the all-important winning goal but were each met by quality defending and goalkeeping from either side.
The tie would eventually end 1-1 on aggregate, with the only decider having to be the lottery of penalties, which saw the hosts advance 4-3 on penalties and become the first side to book a place in the group stages of Africa’s premier club football competition.
CR Belouizdad’s qualification means they now have qualified for the group stages of the competition five times as they gradually build a name for themselves on the continent.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League action continues over the weekend with interesting ties set to take place across the continent.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Fixtures:
Saturday, 21 September
13h00 GMT | TP Mazembe vs Red Arrows15h00 GMT | Petro de Luanda vs Maniema Union
16h00 GMT | Al Ahly vs Gor Mahia
16h00 GMT | Orlando Pirates vs Jwaneng Galaxy
16h00 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns vs Swallows
17h30 GMT | Young Africans vs CBE SA
18h00 GMT | ES Tunis vs Dekedaha
18h00 GMT | Pyramids vs APR
19h00 GMT | Raja CA vs Samartex
19h00 GMT | MC Alger vs Monastir
Sunday, 22 September
14h00 GMT | Sagrada Esperanca vs Enugu Rangers
16h00 GMT | Milo vs Stade d’Abidjan
16h00 GMT | ASKO vs Djoliba
18h00 GMT | AS FAR vs Al-Merrikh
19h00 GMT | Al-Hilal vs San-Pedro
Source: CAF Online
