Sudan giants Al Hilal have kick started their Group A TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign in style with a 2-0 away win against Young Africans SC.

After a goalless first half, coach Florent Ibenge’s team returned strong to score through Adam Coulibaly and Mozamir Yasir to shock the Tanzanian giants in-front of their fans at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

The Malian put Al Hilal ahead after 63 minutes, before Yasir put the icing on the cake after 90 minutes. It was also the first match for newly recruited Young Africans SC coach Sead Ramovic whose side missed the services of injured Ugandan international Khalid Aucho.

“We are very happy to collect maximum points away from home. We need to remain focused,” said Al Hilal’s coach Ibenge after the match.

Ramovic, the Young Africans coach made it clear that there is still work to be done in-terms of team fitness and general play.

Al Hilal are now top of Group A after the match between hosts TP Mazembe from DR Congo and MC Alger ended goalless.

CECAFA teams Young Africans SC and Al Hilal have been drawn to face-off in the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAf Champions League.

In the draw conducted in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday afternoon, the Tanzania Premier League reigning champions Young Africans SC and Al Hilal (Sudan) are placed in Group A that also five time champions TP Mazembe and MC Alger (Algeria).

To reach the group stage, Young Africans SC ejected Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 7-0 on goal aggregate, while Al Hilal saw off San Pedro 3-2 on goal aggregate at the second preliminary round.

Miguel Gamondi, the Young Africans SC head coach will be eager to see that his team go a step further to perform better than they did last season when they reached the quarter final stage. For Al Hilal, who are now playing in the Mauritania Premier League because of the insecurity in Sudan will hope that they can also push a step better and make it to the knockout stage.

But the CECAFA representatives face tricky opposition in TP Mazembe (five times Champions League winners) and tricky MC Alger from Algeria. Interestingly Young Africans SC will host Al Hilal in their opening match between November 26-27, 2024.

South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns have been placed in Group B together with two teams from Morocco Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat (Morocco), together with Maniema Union (DR Congo).

The defending champions who have won the trophy more than any other team Al Ahly (Egypy) will navigate their path in Group C alongside Belouizdad (Algeria), Orlando Pirates (South Africa) andStade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Group D also promises to be a tough one pitting Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), Pyramids FC (Egypt), Sagrada Esperança (Angola) and Mali’s Djoliba FC.

GROUP A

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Young Africans (Tanzania)

Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

MC Alger (Algeria)

GROUP C

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

FAR Rabat (Morocco)

Maniema Union (DR. Congo)

GROUP C

Ahly (Egypt)

Belouizdad (Algeria)

Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

Stade d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

GROUP D

Esperance Tunis (Tunisia)

Pyramids FC (Egypt)

Sagrada Esperança (Angola)

Djoliba (Mali)

Star player Mohamed Abdelrahman netted the lone goal that sent Al Hilal to the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

After drawing 2-2 in the first leg of the second preliminary round against San Pedro, the Sudan Premier League side picked a hard earned 1-0 win in the return leg match played at the Cheikha Ould Boidiya Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania on Sunday.

Abdelrahman who netted the two goals in the first leg scored the only goal after 45 minutes. Al Hilal held their nerves to qualify on a 3-2 goal aggregate and join Tanzania’s Young Africans SC as the only teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the group stage.

“We are happy that after hard work we have managed to qualify for the group stage,” said a happy Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge after the match.

The 16 teams that have now qualified the group stage include; Al Hilal (Sudan), Young Africans SC (Tanzania), CR Belouizdada, MC Alger (Algeria), Al Ahly, Pyramids FC (Egypt), AS Maniema Union, TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Orlando Pirates FC (South Africa), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), Raja Club Athletic, AS FAR Rabat (Morocco), Sagrada Esperanca (Angola), Stade d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Djoliba AC (Mali).

Tanzania Premier League reigning champions Young Africans SC have qualified for the group stage of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Young Africans humbled Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC 6-0 in the return leg of the second preliminary round to qualify on a 7-0 goal aggregate.

Zambian International Clatous Chota Chama gave Young Africans SC the lead after 38 minutes in a match played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

After recess the Tanzanian giants returned determined to bang in more goals and Clement Mzize made it 2-0 after 46 minutes when he rounded off the CBE goalkeeper and finished in an empty net.

Stephane Aziz Ki also got two goals to his account, while Mudathir Yahya and substitute Duke Ooga Abuya also netted a goal apiece. It was all celebration after the final whistle as Young Africans booked yet another place in the group stage like they did last season.

“I am happy that I have managed to score two goals today which have helped the team qualify for the group stage,” said a happy Aziz Ki after the match.

In the other matches played, the other teams from the CECAFA Zone Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), APR FC (Rwanda) and Somalia’s Dekedeka FC all got eliminated.

Gor Mahia who lost the first leg 3-0 suffered a similar scoreline in Cairo as Rami Rabia, Wessam Abou Ali and TaherMohamed Taher scored for Egyptian side Al Ahly.

In Cairo, APR FC took an early lead through Dauda Yussif Deidu against Pyramids FC, but Mohamed Chibi leveled matters before the break. DR Congo International Fiston Mayele Kalala and Karim Hafez added two second half goals to ensure the Egyptian side qualified for the group stage on a 4-2 goal aggregate.

Esperance de Tunis walloped Dekedeka FC 8-0 to qualify on a 12-1 goal aggregate.

Action returns on Sunday with two Sudan Premier League sides Al Hilal and El Merriekh in action.Coach Florent Ibenge’s  Al Hilal who picked a 2-2 draw in the first leg will host Ivory Coast’s San Pedro FC in Mauritania, while El Merriekh who also drew 2-2 in their home match played in Juba will take on Morocco’s AS FAR at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.