Former Champions Through To Group Phase of CAF Champions League

Former Africa champions Zamalek of Egypt and Entente Setif of Algeria have joined Zambia’s Zesco United in the group stages of the African Champions League.

Zamalek grabbed a late equaliser against Mouloudia Bejaia of Algeria to progress 3-1 on aggregate.

Setif, African champions in 2014, were held to a goalless draw at home by Sudan’s Al Merreikh but go through on the away goal rule having earlier drawn 2-2 in the first leg.

Zambia’s Zesco beat Mali’s Stade Malien 2-1 on Tuesday to complete a 5-2 victory on aggregate to reach the Champions’ League group stage for the first time.

The losers get a second chance as they enter the draw for the play-offs in the second-tier Confederation Cup competition.

In that competition, former African champions Esperance of Tunisia booked their place in the play-off round of the competition on a 4-2 aggregate win over Tanzania’s Azam.

They have been joined in the next stage by fellow Tunisians, Stade Gabesian who beat Zambia’s Zanaco 3-0 on aggregate while Sagrada Esperanca of Angola went through at the expense of  V Club Mokanda of Congo.

Former Champions Through To Group Phase of CAF Champions League

Muntari Tagoe Targets Confederation Cup Group Phase

Goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe is targeting the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup with club side Medeama SC in this year’s competition.

Tagoe, who is also captain of the side, believes the quality in the team is good enough for them to go as far as possible in this year’s competition and insist they will go for it.

He will lead the side on Sunday as they play Sudanese side Al Shendi in a second round first leg tie with the return encounter scheduled to come off in Ghana after a fortnight.

“We are ready for this encounter on Sunday and we will go all out to produce a good result on Sunday to make the return encounter an easier option for us in Ghana,” Tagoe said on arrival in Sudan on Wednesday.

He added; “We view this encounter as another step towards our dream of making it to the group phase of the competition, and, therefore cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away”.

Medeama SC advanced to this stage of the competition after eliminating Al Ittihad Tripoli of Libya on a 2-1 aggregate and are seeking to reach the group phase of the competition for the first time.

Muntari Tagoe Targets Confederation Cup Group Phase