Somalia’s Gaadiika hold APR in CAF Champions League

Somalia Premier League champions Gaadiika FC held APR FC to a 1-1 draw in the preliminary first round of the 2023/2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

In the match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday, Farah Muhammad Hussien gave the visitors the lead.

But the Rwanda giants continued to press and push forward to try and find the goals infront of their fans. After recess new signing Victor Mbaoma leveled matters in the 49th minute for the home side.

Coach Thierry Froger’s APR FC intensified their attacks to try and find more goals, but the Gaadiika FC defenders stood firm. ” We had several scoring chances, but failed to take them. We must prepare better ahead of the return leg in a few days, ” said ASR FC coach Froger.

The return leg will be played on August 24th at the same venue and the winning team will face Egyptian giants Pyramid FC in the next round.

In the other matches Burundi’s Bumamuru FC picked a 1-1 draw away to Gabon’s Centre Sportif Bendje FC.

On Friday Ethiopia’s St. George defeated KMKM SC (Zanzibar) 2-1 in a match played at the Azam Complex in Chamazi. Bingam Belay Damte and Natnael Zeleke scored for the Ethiopian giants, while Salum Salum converted a penalty for KMKM SC.

On Sunday Uganda’s Vipers SC who reached the group stage of the same competition last season will face Jwaneng Galaxy FC in Gaborone, Botswana, while Al Merreikh (Sudan) play away to Congo Brazzaville’s Otoho d’Oyo.

Tanzania Premier League champions Young Africans SC will also face Djibouti’s AS Ali Sabieh (ASAS) from Djibouti at the Azam Complex, Chamazi. Wau Salaam FC (South Sudan) are also expected to battle Sudan’s Al Hilal.