Tanzania’s Simba SC have settled for a goalless draw against Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) in their first leg second preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Simba SC created some good scoring chances in the match played at the Tripoli International Stadium in Libya on Sunday, but failed to make them count.

In another match involving a team from the CECAFA Zone played today, Burundi’s Rukinzo FC lost 1-0 to CS Sfaxien in a match played at the Tareb Mhiri Stadium in Sfax.

Mohamed Dhaoui netted the lone goal in the first half of the match hosted by Rukinzo FC. The Burundian champions opted to host the match in Tunisia because they do not have a Stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host International matches.

On Saturday Kenya Police suffered a 1-0 defeat to Zamalek (Egypt) in a match played in Nairobi.

The three teams will now hope to make the return legs count when Kenya Police battle Zamalek on September 20th in Cairo, Rukinzo battle CS Sfaxien on September 21^st, while Simba SC host Al Ahly Tripoli the next day at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Teams that win over two legs will automatically qualify for the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup

Kenya Police and Burundi’s Rukinzo FC have qualified for the 2^nd preliminary round of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

After battling to a goalless draw in the first leg against Horseed FC from Somalia, Rukinzo made no mistake winning the return leg 2-0 in a match played on Friday at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Ramela Hererimana gave Rukinzo FC the lead after 12 minutes, and Issa Bigirimana netted the second goal 18 minutes later.

Kenya Police also stopped hosts Ethiopia Coffee FC 1-0 to qualify for the next round. South Sudan international Rashid Toka headed in ken Police’s goal after 14 minutes at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. But the home side continued to dictate the pace of the game, but failed to find the goals.

Tanzania’s Coastal Union Fc also settled for a goalless draw against Angola’s Bravos do Moquis in a match played on Sunday to bow out on a 3-0 goal aggregate. Algeria’s CA Constantine also ejected Rwanda’s Police FC 4-1 on aggregate.

On Saturday South Sudan Cup holders Jamus lost 4-0 away to Stade Tunisien at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium to bow out on a 5-0 goal aggregate.

In other matches played over the weekend by teams from the CECAFA Zone Uganda’s Kitara FC were ejected by Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya) on a 6-4 goal aggregate, while another Libya side Al Ahli Tripoli also qualified for the 2nd preliminary round after ejecting Uhamiaji FC (Zanzibar) 5-1 on aggregate.

Two teams from the CECAFA Zone Kitara FC and Jamus FC made false starts as the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup got underway on Friday.

South Sudan National Cup holders Jamus FC suffered a 1-0 home defeat to visiting Stade Tunisien (Tunisia) in a match played at the newly renovated Juba National Stadium. Baklawa Osman Watara netted the lone goal after 55 minutes.

At the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, a 10-man Kitara FC from Uganda playing hosts to Al Hilal Benghazi suffered a 3-2 defeat.

Ugandan international Muhamed Shaban gave the Libya side the lead, and Talha Rizq made it 2-0 going into the interval. After recess Kitara FC’s goalkeeper Crispus Kusiima was sent off.

Brian Ahebwa pulled a goal back for Kitara FC, but skipper Faisal Al-Badru restored Al Hilal Benghazi restored their two goal lead when he converted from the spot. Denis Omedi scored Kitara FC’s second goal after 79 minutes.

Somalia’s Horseed Fc also managed to hold Rukinzo FC (Burundi) to a goalless draw in a match played at the Azam Complex in Dare Salaam, Tanzania.

Action continues on Saturday with Tanzania’s Coastal Union Fc playing away to FC Bravos dos Maquis, while Police FC (Rwanda) also battle Algerian side CS Constantine away from home.

On Sunday Uhamiaji FC (Zanzibar) will face Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), while Administration Police FC (Kenya) battle Ethiopian Coffee FC.

Ugandan international Travis Mutyaba has won the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup with Zamalek SC.

The Egyptian side beat a 10-man RS Berkane (Morocco) 1-0 in the return leg of the final played on Sunday at the Cairo International Stadium. Zamalek who lost the first leg 2-1 qualified on an away goals rule.

Ahmed Hamdi put Zamalek ahead after 23 minutes with the home fans cheering in numbers. Late in the match RS Berkane’s Hamza El Moussaoui received a straight red card.

Although Uganda’s Mutyaba was not on the starting squad for the final, he played some matches to help Zamalek win. ”  I am happy that I have been part of this team that has written history, ” says Mutyaba.

The 19-year old Mutyaba joined Zamalek in February this year. Mutyaba who is considered the next big Ugandan star last year helped the Uganda U-18 team win the regional CECAFA U-18 Championship in the final played in Kisumu, Kenya. He also featured in Uganda Cranes two group matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers losing 2-1 to Guinea and defeating Somalia 1-0.

The attacking midfielder last featured for Uganda Premier League side, SC Villa in the 2022/2023 season before he was reportedly set to join Georgian outfit Dinamo Tbilisi.

Tanzania’s Mbwana Samatta and goalkeeper Dennis Onyango (Uganda) are the other players from the CECAFA Zone that have won CAF competition trophies. Onyango helped Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) win the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in 2016, while Samatta guided TP Mazembe (DR Congo) to the same title a year before where he also emerged top scorer.