Sudan Premier League reigning champions Al Hilal are the first team to book a quarter final slot in the on-going 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Coach Folrent Ibenge’s team battled to to a 1-1 draw against MC Alger in a Group A match played on Sunday at the Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Sofiane Bayazid gave the Algerian side an early 5^th minute lead, but the Al Hilal fought back strongly to level matters through Jean Claued Girumugisha. The Burundian International dribbled past two defenders and unleashed a hard shot that the MC Alger goalkeeper failed to stop.

The draw saw Al Hilal kept top of the table with 10 points and qualify for the knock out stage with two more matches to spare.

“We are very happy that we managed to keep pushing despite conceding an early goal. The players have worked hard to get the draw and qualify for the next stage,” said Ibenge.

Al Hilal who are playing all their matches away from home because of the political unrest in Sudan have won three group matches and drawn once.

The Sudan side will next host Tanzania’s Young Africans SC on January 12^th, 2025, before they play the last match against TP Mazembe six days later in Lubumbashi.

Tanzania Premier League giants Young Africans SC have stopped DR Congo’s TP Mazembe 3-1 in a Group A match of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The win sends Young Africans SC’s first to four points and revives their hopes of picking squeezing through to the quarter-final stage.

After 16 minutes TP Mazambe’s goalkeeper Alioune Badara Faty stepped forward and converted a penalty sending goalkeeper Djigui Diarra the wrong way.

But Young Africans SC who are welcoming the return of midfielder and Uganda Cranes skipper Khalid Aucho leveled matters after 33 minutes through Clement Nzize.

Nzize unleashed a hard shot from out side the box that rested at the back of the next to send the home fans jubilating at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

In the second half Young Africans intensified their search for more goals and it paid off when Stephane Aziz Ki made it 2-1 after 56 minutes. Four minutes later Nzize netted his second goal of the day.

“I am happy that the team has worked hard to finally get this win. We need to continue working hard because we have more matches to come,” said Young Africans SC head coach Sead Ramovic.

Sudan’s Al Hilal who hosts MC Alger (Algeria) on Sunday currently lead Group A with nine points.

Table Group A

                        P    W   D   L   GF GA GD Pts

Al Hilal           3     3    0    0     5    1     4    9

MC Alger       3     1    1    1     2    1     1    4

Y. Africans     4     1    1    2     4    6    -2   4

TP Mazembe  4     0    2    2     3    6    -3   2

Sudan giants Al Hilal have continued with their winning ways in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group A campaign.

Coach Florent Ibenge’s side stunned hosts MC Alger 1-0 with Guessouma Fofana scoring the lone goal after 76 minutes in Algiers, Algeria on Saturday night.

The win keeps Al Hilal comfortably top of the log with nine points after they had also stopped Young Africans SC 2-0 in Dar es Salaam and defeated TP Mazembe 2-1 in a match played in Mauritania a week ago.

“I am very happy that my players remained focused and collected the three points. We need to keep focused because we still have more games to go,” said Ibenge after the match.

In an earlier Group A match Tanzania’s Young Africans SC picked their first point in the Group stage after a 1-1 draw away to TP Mazembe in Kinsasha.

Substitute Cheick Fofana gave TP Mazembe the lead after 41 minutes, but Zimbabwean International Prince Dube leveled matters in the dying minutes of the game.

While Al Hilal have now collected 9 points, MC Alger are second with 4 points. TP Mazembe are in third place with 2 points, while Young Africans SC only have 1 point and are bottom of the log.

Sudan’s Al Hilal have stopped TP Mazembe 2-1 to maintain their winning run in Group A of the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

After shocking Young Africans SC 2-0 in the opening match played in Dar es Salaam a week ago, Al Hilal made sure they collected another straight win against DR Congo giants in a match played on Sunday at the Cheikha Ouid Boidiya Stadium in Mauritania.

Al Hilal were awarded a penalty after 22 minutes, and Mohamed Abdel Rahman made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-0.

After recess TP Mazembe pushed forward and leveled matters after 64 minutes through Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb. Substitute Jean Claude Girumigisha came to the rescue to ensure Al Hilal collected maximum points with a winning goal one minute of added time.

“It was a very tough match. But I am happy that my players concentrated till the end of the match,” said a happy Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge after the match.

Group A table leaders Al Hilal will next travel to face Algeria’s MC Alger on December 14^th, while Young Africans SC play away to TP Mazembe in DR Congo.