Burundi’s Premier League reigning champions Aigle Noir C.S will face giants Al Ahly in the second qualifying round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Aigle Noir ejected Djibouti’s ASAS on away goals’ rule after a 1-1 draw on aggregate in the first preliminary round.

It will be the first time that Aigle Noir play in that stage and will host the Egyptian side Al Ahly in the renovated National Stadium in Bujumbura next month in the first round.

Tanzania’s Simba SC who ejected Gaborone United (Botswana) 2-1 on aggregate will face Nsingizini Hotspurs Fc in the second qualifying round. The Eswatini side saw off Simba Bhora FC from Zimbabwe 3-0 on aggregate.

Kenya Police FC who lost the return leg 2-0 to Mogadishu City FC, but qualified on more goals scored away rule after the two team’s ties 3-3, will face Sudan’s Al Hilal SC in the next round.

After settling for a goalless draw in the first leg against South Sudan’s Jamus SC, Al Hilal managed to win the return leg 1-0 with Claude Jean Girumugisha scoring the lone goal in a match played at the New Amaan Stadium on Zanzibar on Sunday.

Tanzania giants Young Africans SC who ejected Wiliete FC 3-0 on aggregate will fancy their chances of making it to the group stage when they face Malawi’s Silver Strikers FC in the second preliminary round.

Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC who played in the group stage in the 2022/2023 season will take on Power Dynamos FC in the second preliminary round. The Zambian ejected ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) during penalty shoot-outs after a 1-1 draw on aggregate.

Ethiopian Insurance FC who eliminated Mlandege SC (Zanzibar) 4-3 on aggregate will also face the winner between Rwanda’s APR FC (Rwanda) and defending champions Pyramids FC (Egypt).

Meanwhile Sudan’s El Merriekh lost 1-0 to Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the first leg of the first preliminary round, while APR FC will host Pyramids on October 1^st in Kigali.

Ten teams have confirmed participation in the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 CECAFA qualifiers.

Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager confirmed to Cecafaonline on Friday that ten Member Associations have entered their teams.

“We closed the registration late last month and I can confirm that ten teams will take part in the qualifiers to be hosted by Ethiopia,” added Mossi.

He explained that the qualifiers have been scheduled to take place November 15-30^th. “We might adjust the dates and make the announcement soon,” added Mossi.

Six teams played in the 2025 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) CECAFA qualifiers which saw hosts Uganda emerge champions.

At the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ten teams including Uganda qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 to take place in Qatar this November.

Teams that have confirmed

Ethiopia

Uganda

Sudan

South Sudan

Rwanda

Burundi

Tanzania

Somalia

Djibouti

Kenya

New comers Jamus SC have held Sudan giants Al Hilal SC to a goalless draw in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The South Sudan Premier League champions were making their first appearance in Africa’s biggest Club competition.

New signing Jude Ssemugabi from Uganda started for Jamus SC and kept the Al Hilal SC defenders on their toes at the Juba National Stadium in a match played on Sunday.

After 22 minutes the Ugandan International thought he would earn a penalty after an Al Hilal SC defender entangled with him in the box, but the referee waved otherwise.

Shabani Kagayo thought he had put Jamus SC ahead when he beat Al Hilal SC goalkeeper Soufiane Farid after 44 minutes, but a defender was on time to clear the line.

In the second half Al Hilal SC pushed forward and dictated the flow of the match with Ahmed Salem and Jean Claude Girumugisha causing the Jamus SC defenders all sorts of challenges.

Jamus SC cheered on by the local fans absorbed the pressure by Al Hilal SC as the match ended goalless. The return leg at the New Amaam Stadium in Zanzibar on September 28^th.

Laurentiu Aurelian Reghecampf, the Al Hilal SC coach said that his team did not play really well. “We did not control the match well. We must improve ahead of the return leg,” he added.

In another match played in the CECAFA Zone, Burundi’s Aigle Noir were held to a goalless draw by ASAS Telecom from Djibouti. On Saturday Ethiopian Insurance picked a 2-0 win against Mlandege FC (Zanzibar), while Kenya Police FC defeated Mogadishu City Club SC 3-1 in Nairobi. Tanzania Premier League side Simba SC also picked an important 1-0 away win against Botswana’s Gaborone United.

Tanzania Premier League sides Azam FC and Singida Black Stars FC collected away wins in the first leg first preliminary round matches of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Fresh from winning the CECAFA Kagame Cup, Singida Black Stars FC stopped Rayon Sports FC 1-0 in a match played in Kigali on Saturday.

Marouf Tchakei netted the lone goal after 20 minutes in a match that saw the two teams create numerous scoring opportunities.

At the Juba National Stadium, Azam FC under the guidance of new coach Florent Ibenge picked a comfortable 2-0 win against El Merriekh SC Bentiu.

Attacking midfielder Toto Faisal Salum scored after 28 minutes, and DR Congo import Jephte Kitambala made it 2-0 after 68 minutes.

“We are happy to come here and win the match with two goals. We now have to work hard and plan for the return leg,” said the experienced Ibenge after the match.

Burundi’s Flambeau du Centre also picked a 2-1 win against visiting Al Akhdar FC (Libya) in Bujumbura.

Papel Ary gave the visitors the lead in the first half, while Asmani Amissi and David Irishura scored in the second half to ensure the home side registered a win infront of their fans.

In the other matches played by teams from the CECAFA Zone, Ethiopia’s Welayta Dicha FC settled for a goalless draw against Al-Ittihad (Libya) in Addis Ababa.

Making their debut in continental Football, Uganda’s NEC FC also settled for a 2-2 draw against Nairobi United (Kenya) in a match played at the Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo in Kampala.

Action continues on Sunday with Somalia’s Dekedda Fc facing Zamala Ruwaba (Sudan), while AS du Port (Djibouti) face KMKM SC from Zanzibar.