CAF Champions League: AS Pikine Edges Past Etoile Filante in Debut Victory
AS Pikine made a successful debut in the CAF Champions League by defeating Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou (EFO) 1–0 in the first leg of the preliminary round this Saturday at Demba Diop Stadium in Dakar.
The lone goal of the match came in the 80th minute through an unlikely hero—central defender Cheikh Wade, who surged forward on a corner kick and clinically finished from close range, leaving the Burkinabe goalkeeper with no chance.
Despite EFO’s greater continental experience—with over a dozen participations compared to Pikine’s maiden appearance—the visitors failed to truly impose themselves. While EFO enjoyed a slight edge in possession for much of the match, their inefficiency in the final third allowed the Senegalese champions, spurred on by a passionate home crowd, to seize the advantage.
After the match, AS Pikine coach Alassane Dia expressed satisfaction:
“The main thing was to win this match at home. Now, we’ll prepare to manage the return leg in 15 days.”
On the other side, EFO coach Alou Badra Diallo remained optimistic despite the setback:
“We didn’t capitalize on the chances we had… but nothing is lost. We’ll regroup and aim to turn things around at home.”
The return leg in Ouagadougou promises to be a tense encounter as both clubs battle for a place in the next round of Africa’s premier club competition.
