Away teams dominated the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2nd Preliminary Round action on Saturday, as several clubs secured crucial victories on the road, putting themselves in strong positions ahead of the return legs next week.
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates overcame a psychological hurdle in Gaborone by defeating Jwaneng Galaxy 2-0, the same team that knocked them out of the competition at this stage last season. Goals from the former champions provided them with a comfortable cushion ahead of the return leg in South Africa.
Similarly, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, five-time champions of the competition, secured an impressive 2-0 win against Red Arrows in Zambia. The victory sets them up nicely for the second leg in Lubumbashi, where they will aim to finish the job on home soil.
Tanzanian champions Young Africans also earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Rwanda’s CBE SA, continuing their quest for continental glory. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns made light work of Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows, winning 4-0 in a match played in Pretoria, taking full advantage of their home turf despite being the away team on paper.
It was a tougher outing for Morocco’s AS FAR, who drew 2-2 with Sudanese side Al Merrikh in a thrilling contest in Sudan. Egyptian side Pyramids FC also found themselves held to a 1-1 draw by APR FC in Rwanda, leaving both teams with work to do in the second leg.
Elsewhere, Burkina Faso’s Association Sportive des Douanes edged Algeria’s CR Belouizdad 1-0, delivering a solid performance to carry a narrow lead into the return leg.
As the race to the CAF Champions League group stages heats up, Sunday’s fixtures will feature five more exciting encounters, including reigning champions Al Ahly beginning their title defense away from home.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Results & Fixtures:
Friday, 13 September
Enugu Rangers 1 – 0 Sagrada Esperanca
Monastir 0 – 1 MC Alger
Saturday, 14 September
CBE SA 0 – 1 Young Africans
Red Arrows 0 – 2 TP Mazembe
Al-Merrikh 2 – 2 AS FAR
Jwaneng Galaxy FC 0 – 2 Orlando Pirates FC
Maniema Union 2 – 1 Petro de Luanda
Djoliba 1 – 0 ASKO
Douanes 1 – 0 CR Belouizdad
