Al Hilal Omdurman, Pyramids FC, TP Mazembe and Mangasport made impressive starts to the 2026/27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary round with important victories across the continent.
Al Hilal secured a commanding 2-0 away win over Burundi’s Aigle Noir, putting the Sudanese giants in a strong position ahead of the return leg.
Gabon champions Mangasport also boosted their hopes of progressing with a 3-1 home victory over Namibia’s African Stars.
Egyptian side Pyramids FC recorded one of the standout results of the weekend, defeating Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 2-0 in Nairobi. W. El Karti and M. Saber scored for the visitors.
Five-time African champions TP Mazembe claimed a narrow 1-0 away victory over Ghana’s Medeama, with Lise Nyembo Ntumba scoring in the 86th minute.
Tanzanian giants Simba SC also won on the road, beating Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers 1-0, while Angola’s Petro de Luanda defeated UD Songo by the same scoreline.
Morocco’s Maghreb Fèz produced one of the biggest wins of the round, thrashing Burkina Faso’s Rahimo FC 4-1 at home.
Nigerian clubs held
Nigeria’s representatives endured mixed fortunes. Rivers United played out a 1-1 draw away to Côte d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro, giving the Nigerian side home advantage in the return leg.
Rangers International also drew 1-1 with Benin Republic’s AS Sobemap.
Other notable results included Gaborone United 1-1 Young Africans, Vipers 1-1 FC Nouadhibou, and Club Africain 1-0 Djoliba.
There were also goalless draws involving Orlando Pirates, who were held 0-0 by Mauritian debutants Cure Waves, and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive du Sud, who drew 0-0 with Stade Malien.
The CAF Champions League first preliminary round return legs are scheduled for September 11–13, with the winners advancing to the second preliminary round as the race for a place in the group stage intensifies.
