The second leg of the Preliminary Round of the 2023/2024 Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup took place last Saturday, with some interesting matches across the continent.
Convincingly, Bendel Insurance, Al Merreikh Juba, Stade Mallen, Bahir Dar Kenema, SOAR and Academica secured a spot in the final round of the preliminaries.
BSNSports.com.ng reports that in Mali, Stade Mallen produced an impressive performance with a 4-1 thumping over Liberian club Watanga, at the Stade Du 26 Mars, through a brace from Coulibaly Djibril, before Moussa Traore scored in the 69 minutes to complete it 4-1 for the Malian as they advanced into the next round.
In Algeria, Nigeria representative, Bendel Insurance FC, secured a remarkable result from a heroic performance by goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, who saved two spot kicks during the penalties shootouts as Insurance won 4-3 on penalties, at the Mabrouki Salem Stadium.
After the Algerian Club, ASO Chlef levelled the scoreline 1-1, through a 42nd-minute strike by Juba Aguieb, but the Monday Odigie-led side defended in numbers as the game ended 1-1 on aggregate.
Bendel Insurance will now take on Moroccan Club RS Berkane in the final round.
While in South Sudan, Al Merreikh Juba qualified on an aggregate scoreline of 3-3, after they played out a goalless draw with Hiaidib Al Nuhod, at the AlMerriekh stadium.
The South Sudan side will now take on Angolan club APC Lobito, in the final preliminary round.
In other results, Ethiopian Club Bahir Dar Kenema advanced 4-3, on aggregate even as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Azam FC in Tanzania.
Seleman Nado and Prince Dube both scored for the host, in the opening twelve minutes of the game. Before Habtamu Zewede pulled a goal back for Bahir Dar Kenema, in the 18th minute.
The Ethiopian side will take on Club African in the next round.
The final preliminary rounds will be played next month, with the winners in both legs advancing to the CAF Champions Confederation Cup group stage for the 2023/24 season.
CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round Results:
1. Stade Mullen 4-1 Watanga
2. ASO Chief 1-0 Bendel Insurance (Insurance advanced on penalties 4-3)
3. Academie De FAD 2-1 ASC Kara
4. La Pusses 2-1 Academica
5. SOAR 0-0 Douanes
6. Azam FC 2-1 Bahir Dar Kenema (Kenema advanced 4-3 on aggregate scoreline)
7. Al Merreikh Juba 0-0 Hiaidid Al Nuhod (Al Merreikh advanced on away goal rule after the first leg ended 3-3)
