Kenya’s Tusker FC eject Arta Solar 7

Kenya Premier League Champions Tusker FC are through to the next round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Tusker FC defeated Arta Solar 7 from Djibouti 3-0 in the return leg match of the preliminary round on Saturday at the Nyayo Stadium.

The Kenyan side qualified on a 4-1 goal aggregate to set-up a tie against Egyptian giants Zamalek in the second preliminary round.

Shomari Kibwana netted a penalty after 5 minutes after Tanzania import Joshua Ibrahim had been brought down in the box. After 25 minutes Joshua Ibrahim nodded in to make it 2-0 for the home side.

The Djibouti Premier League reigning champions tried to fight back strongly with former Arsenal defender Alexandre Song leading the team from the midfield.

In the second half Tusker FC returned with more hunger for more goals as they dominated play. Ugandan striker Deogratius Ojok made it 3-0 after 75 minutes.

Art Solar 7 tried to fight back to reduce Tusker’s lead, but failed to penetrate the defending line.

“ I am very happy that my players were hungry to score today. We need to keep working hard because the next stage will not be that easy,” said Tusker’s coach Robert Matano.

In other matches played Burundi’s Le Messager De Ngozi exited the competition after falling 1-0 to US Genadmerie and falling out 2-1 on aggregate.

Eight teams from the CECAFA region will be in action today to decide if they qualify for the next stage. Uganda’s Express FC who have a 2-1 advantage play Sudan’s El Merreikh, while KMKM SC (Zanzibar) also take on Al-Attihad (Libya) in a second leg match to be played in Sfax, Tunisia.

Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) will host Fasil Kanema (Ethiopia), while APR FC (Rwanda) take on Mogadishu City FC and Young Africans SC (Tanzania) play away to Rivers United in Nigeria.