CAF Champions League
Young Africans silence CBE to storm Champions League group stage
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.