The head coach of Al Hilal, Florent Ibenge has said his team must be at it’s best when they host Al Ahly in the return leg in the quarter final stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Ibenge’s team lost the first leg 1-0 in a match played at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.

But Ibenge has made it clear they must be at their best and also use home advantage when they host Al Ahly on Tuesday at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium, Nouakchott in Mauritania.

“We know Al Ahly is a good team and we now know what to do in the return leg. It will not be an easy match, but we need to be sharper at the front and also defend with a lot of caution,” added the experienced coach.

The Sudan Premier League giants who have had to play in the Mauritanian Premier League in the 2024/2025 season because of the political instability back home will count on the support in Nouakchott.

Al Hilal also boost of a fairly good record playing in Nouakchott winning against San Pedro (Ivory Coast) in the second round, against TP Mazembe and drawing against MC Alger in the Group stage, and suffering a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania’s Young Africans SC.

Al Hilal are the only team from the CECAFA Zone playing at the quarter final stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC have suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Al Masry in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAf Confederation Cup quarter final.

Abderrahim Deghmoum gave the Egyptian side the lead after 16 minutes at the New Suez Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The striker unleashed a hard shot that caught that the Simba SC goalkeeper Moussa Camara failed to time well.

Simba SC quickly reorganized and attacked with Leonel Ateba and Jean Charles Ahoua’s efforts stopped by Al Masry’s goalkeeper Mahmoud Gad.

After recess Simba SC again came all out to try and push forward with caution as the Al Masry side was quick in the counter attacks. Again Al Masry’s goalkeeper saved Elie Mpanzu’s hard shot after 49 minutes.

Defender Shomari Kapombe also had his effort parried back by the Al Masry goalkeeper. However, the hosts scored a second goal through substitute John Okoye as the clock ticked away to the end of the match.

Fadlu Davids, the Simba SC head coach said that although they failed to utilize the chances created at goal, they will go back and prepare for the return leg. “The quarter final is decided over two legs and now we must be ready for the home match,” added the coach.

Simba SC will have to be at their best when they host Al Masry in the return leg on April 9^th, 2025 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The head coach of Somalia’s U-17 team Mohamed Abdulkhadir Sheikhdon has promised that his team will continue fighting on in the remaining matches at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Somalia suffered a 3 -0 defeat to Tunisia in their opening Group C match played at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida in Morocco on Tuesday night.

But Sheikhdon has made it clear that most of his players were not used to the big stage in the opening match, but will re-group and improve in the next matches.

“We are determined to keep fighting in the remaining two Group matches because we know what we should do to be able to progress in the competition,” added the Somalia coach.

Somalia will next face The Gambia on April 4^th in their second Group C match. The Gambia also suffered a 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Senegal in their opening match.

In Group A the other teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda and Tanzania have all suffered defeats. Uganda Cubs suffered a 5-0 loss to hosts Morocco, while Tanzania lost 4-1 to Zambia.

The top 10 teams at the U-17 AFCON which ends on April 19th will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar as the CAF representatives.

Tanzania have suffered a 4-1 defeat to Zambia in their first Group A match at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

After a defensive lapse by the Tanzanian team Jonathan Kalimina gave the Junior Chipolopolo the lead after only 8 minutes at the El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia.

Captained by Kassim Juma Tanzania tried to re-organise  themselves and started to create some chances up-front through Jabiri Farijala and Juma Abushiri.

But before the interval Abel Nyirongo made it 2-0 for Zambia after picking a good cross from Nthasilwe Malupande.

After the break Tanzania returned charged and determined to get some goals as they had Juma Sagwe’s shot saved.

But the highly passing Zambian side continued to push forward and Mike Mutale netted their third goal after 79 minutes. Sagwe finally pulled a goal back for Tanzania with a well-timed header that beat Zambia’s goalkeeper Rogers Simumba.

Substitute Gabriel Phiri increased Zambia’s lead with the clock ticking away.

Tanzania will return to action on Thursday with a match against fellow CECAFA side Uganda. The Uganda Cubs lost their opening Group A match 5-0 to hosts Morocco on Sunday night.