- AS Kigali progressed after winning at home
- Ethiopia’s Fasil Kenema, Zanzibar’s Kipanga also won
- The second round matches are scheduled for the first week of October
East African sides did well to progress to the second round of the CAF Confederations Cup after the return ties of the first preliminary round were concluded this weekend.
AS Kigali progressed after edging out Djibouti Telecom 1-0 in the return leg played at the Huye Stadium.
AS Kigali progressed through to the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup after beating AS Djibouti Telecom 1-0 at Huye Stadium, Rwanda, on Sunday.
Midfielder Rashid Kalisa scored the lone goal of the game that qualified the side with a 1-0 aggregate win following a barren draw in the first leg played last weekend.
Kigali started the match on a high as they pressed Telecom into their own half. They had a brilliant chance to break the deadlock two minutes to the break when Hussein Tshabalala was axed in the box, but Innocent Mbonihankuye’s spot kick was saved.
In the second half, Kigali continued knocking and the door finally opened after 67 minutes when Kalisa rose highest inside the box to thump home a header off a Haruna Niyonzima corner.
Mbungo immediately made quick substitutions with Niyonzima and Fabrice Mugheni making way for Denis Rukundo and Landry Djuma as the tactician looked to strengthen his defense to prevent the visitors from scoring the away goal.
The Djiboutian players pushed for an equalizer in an attempt to keep their qualification chances alive, but the home side, coached by former AFC Leopards and Bandari FC coach Cassa Mbungo defended with their all to ensure they earned a second round spot.
Other East African sides also progress
In other Confederation Cup matches this weekend, Zanzibar’s Kipanga FC qualified for the second round for the first time ever after edging out South Sudan’s Al Hilal Wau 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 aggregate draw.
The two teams drew 1-1 in both home and away legs of the tournament.
In the return tie, played at the Amman Stadium, Mudhir Vuai scored the important goal for Kipanga in the 73rd minute equalizing for the home side after Mustafa Abaker had given the South Sudanese side a first half lead.
Ethiopia’s Fasil Kenema also progressed to the second round despite a 1-0 loss to Bumamaru of Burundi. They progressed 3-1 on aggregate having won the first leg 3-0.
Tanzania’s Geita Gold won 2-1 against Sudan’s Hilal Alsahil, but the latter progressed on the away goal rule having won the first leg 1-0 at home. Bidco Uganda Limited (BUL) FC from Uganda suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Future FC in Cairo to bow out 1-0 on aggregate.
Sudan’s Al Ahli Khartoum settled for a goalless draw against Al Akhdar FC, but the Libyan team qualified for the next stage 3-0 on aggregate.
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