The CAF Confederation Cup Round of 32 first leg produced strong performances from the favorites, who ensured they hold commanding positions ahead of the return fixtures next week. Teams like Espérance de Tunis, Zanaco, ENPPI, and Azam delivered dominant results, while others like Mouloudia Oran and SC Villa also made impressive strides on their home turf.
Key Results
Saturday’s Matches
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Stade Gabésien (Tunisia) secured a 2-1 win over Kaloum (Guinea). The Tunisian side gained a valuable lead ahead of the return leg.
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Harare City (Zimbabwe) suffered a 1-2 defeat against Zanaco (Zambia). The Zambians showed resilience and took control with a crucial away win.
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Atletico Olympic (Burundi) were outclassed by Mounana (Gabon), who won 2-0 in Burundi.
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SC Villa (Uganda) was in dominant form, smashing JKU (Zanzibar) 4-0 in Kampala.
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Sagrada Esperança (Angola) edged Desportivo Maputo (Mozambique) 1-0.
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V Club Mokanda (Congo) played to a 0-0 draw with Police (Rwanda), which leaves the tie balanced for the return leg.
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Renaissance (Chad) were heavily beaten by Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) 0-3. The defending champions of Tunisia look in full control of the tie.
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Africa Sports (Ivory Coast) fell to ENPPI (Egypt) 0-2 in a comprehensive away win for the Egyptians.
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Bidvest Wits (South Africa) was crushed by Azam (Tanzania) 0-3 in Johannesburg, a remarkable performance by the Tanzanians.
Sunday’s Matches
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Mouloudia Oran (Algeria) delivered a solid 2-0 victory over SC Gagnoa (Ivory Coast).
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Kawkab Marrakech (Morocco) dominated Barrack Young Controllers II (Liberia) 3-0, showing their strength.
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Nasarawa United (Nigeria) narrowly defeated CS Constantine (Algeria) 1-0.
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Saint Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) won 2-1 against Al Ahly Shendy (Sudan).
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Al Ittihad (Libya) edged Medeama (Ghana) 1-0.
Performances to Note
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Espérance de Tunis were clinical in their 3-0 win over Renaissance in Chad, showing their quality and dominance in the competition.
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Azam’s 3-0 triumph over Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg stands out as one of the biggest away wins of the weekend, showcasing their attacking prowess.
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Zanaco’s 2-1 win over Harare City in Zimbabwe put them in a strong position for qualification.
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SC Villa’s commanding 4-0 win at home is a fantastic result, giving them a solid foundation for the return leg.
Looking Ahead
The second-leg matches next weekend will be pivotal for these teams. With most of the favorites taking strong positions in the first leg, teams like Mouloudia Oran, Zanaco, and Espérance de Tunis will be looking to confirm their progression. However, clubs like V Club Mokanda and Police will need to pull off strong performances at home to make a comeback.
Overall, the first leg has set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the round of 32 in the CAF Confederation Cup.
