The Orange CAF Confederation Cup competition action returns this weekend across the continent with some mouth-watering encounters lined up in first round second leg matches. Cameroonian side Union Douala will travel to Nigeria to face Warri Wolves. Doula carries a 3-2 deficit and will need to turn things round away from home if they are to reach second round. It is the same story with Malian side C.O Bamako who lost 2-0 to visiting Ivorians, ASEC Mimosas and now head to Abidjan looking for a miracle win.
South African side SuperSport United will be in Nairobi at the weekend to play AFC Leopards and the Kenyans 2-0 down from first leg encounter. Matsatsantsa as SuperSport Utd are affectionately known will be hoping the Kenyan Leopards do not claw their way back like they did against Defence FC from Ethiopia in the previous round. AFC Leopards beat Defence 2-0 in Nairobi but the South Africans boasting likes of in-form Senegalese striker Mame Niang might prove to be a different kettle of fish.
Meanwhile reports from Accra say that Orange CAF Confederation Cup debutants Medeama of Ghana intend to take their own food, water to Morocco where they bring a 3-0 first leg win against 2011 competition winners Moghreb Fes.
According to SuperSport.com a Medeama official Ebenezer Aidoo was quoted on a local radio station saying, “We know all the tricks that teams employ to make sure they win. Our plans include taking food and water to Morocco and finding good lodgings in Fes so that our players are comfortable.”
MAS Fes has come back from similar loss before and the prospect of doing that again makes it an interesting clash on Saturday in northern Moroccan city for a place in the last 16 in the second-tier African club championship. Malik Akowuah, Kabiru Imoro and Kwame Boahene scored the goals that have left Moghreb needing three unanswered goals at home just to force a penalty shootout.
Ebusua Dwarfs, the other Ghanaian challengers, also have a good chance of advancing in a 10-year-old competition dominated by Tunisian (four titles) and Moroccan (three) clubs. They travel to Angola with a 2-0 lead over Petro Atletico thanks to second-half goals from Beninese David Gomez and Ricky Mensah. However, Petro overcame a similar handicap last month in the preliminaries, defeating Namibians African Stars 3-0 at home with Senegalese Ladji Keita bagging a brace.
A solid away 0-0 draw by Nigerian club side Bayelsa United will be encouraging when Congolese side Kondzo visit. The 2009 semi-finalists Bayelsa United will start out as favorites on home soil. The other Congo Brazzaville club CARA, hold a 1-0 advantage over Tunisians Etoile Sahel in a showdown between two former African champions.
Etoile Sahel (TUN) v CARA (CGO) (0-1)
AFC Leopards (KEN) v SuperSport Utd (RSA) (0-2)
Al-Ahly Shendy (SUD) v AS Kigali (RWA) (0-1)
El-Jadida (MAR) v Gamtel (GAM) (2-0)
Moghreb Fes (MAR) v Medeama (GHA) (0-3)
Zesco Utd (ZAM) v Ferroviario Beira (MOZ) (0-0)
St Michel Utd (SEY) v How Mine (ZIM) (1-5)
Bayelsa Utd (NGR) v Kondzo (CGO) (0-0)
CS Constantine (ALG) v Red Lions (LBR) (1-0)
ASEC (CIV) v CO Bamako (MLI) (2-0)
Ismaily (EGY) v MK Etancheite (COD) (0-0)
Petro Atletico (ANG) v Ebusua Dwarfs (GHA) (0-2)
Wadi Degla (EGY) v AS Douanes (TOG) (1-1)
Djoliba (MLI) v Don Bosco (COD) (1-2)
Warri Wolves (NGR) v Union Douala (CMR) (3-2)
CA Bizertin (TUN) v Desportivo Huila (ANG) (1-0)
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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