The surprising first leg results of the first Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League have set up a fascinating weekend across the continent as the return legs are played from Friday.

With the second-leg ties to decide who reaches October’s final qualifying hurdle, several favourites carry sizeable cushions, but many contests are delicately poised.

Nigeria’s Remo Stars delivered the first-leg’s most eye-catching 4-0 scoreline with Lamine Ndenge, Ebuka Anthony, Adams Goïta and Seun Olasupo all on target. 

Zilimadjou’s famous Stade de Moroni atmosphere is rarely forgiving for visitors in Comoros, but a four-goal deficit means the home side can just hope to rattle the Nigerians early.

Tunisian pair Espérance and Monastir banked emphatic away wins, while Nigeria’s Remo Stars, Tanzania’s Young Africans, Orlando Pirates and Petro de Luanda also opened up clear leads.

Elsewhere, a glut of stalemates means several ties now resemble one-off cup finals with qualification to October’s second preliminary round at stake. 

Holders Pyramids will play their postponed preliminary ties on 1 and 5 October after their FIFA Intercontinental Cup commitments; Al-Merreikh v St Éloi Lupopo has also been slated.

Heavyweights with one foot through

Espeance return to Rades with authority and options having won the firsrt leg tie 3-0 at AS FAN of Niger. Aboubacar Diakité’s second-half brace in Niamey helped them to the victory. 

They’ll be overwhelming favourites to complete the job, with AS FAN needing an early breakthrough to stir any jeopardy.

Their compatriots Monastir smothered East End Lions in Freetown, scoring once before the break and three more late on to seal the 4-0 win.. 

The Sierra Leoneans must chase goals away from home, a task complicated by Monastir’s compact shape and counter-threat.

Tanzanian champions Young Africans return to a packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with three away goals and a clean sheet. Angolan club Wiliete would need something extraordinary to flip the script.

Orlando Pirates have a commanding cushion when they host Lioli of Lesotho. The South Africans’ task now is game-state management at the Orlando Stadium after winning the first leg 3-0.

Petro de Luanda’s continental nous told in Curepipe with a 3-0 away win over Cercle de Joachim. The Angolans are strong favourites to finish the tie at home, where their front line usually finds space as opponents push on.

Meanwhile Stade d’Abidjan, Ethiopian Insurance, Police FC of Kenya are all well-placed to take advantage of their first-leg wins. 

Knife-edge ties poised for drama

Elsewhere one of the round’s premium ties hangs on a single goal from Innocent Kashita as Zambia’s Dynamos face ASEC in Abidjan hoping to turn their narrow 1-0 into a second-leg advantage.

With no advantage banked, RS Berkane’s experience at this stage makes them marginal favourites in Morocco, yet Togolese side Kara’s pace in transition keeps this alive.

A tight goalless draw in the first leg in Benin leaves everything to play for in Tripoli. Ahly Tripoli will be buoyed by home backing, but Dadjè’s organisation and set-piece threat suggest a nervy night ahead for the Libyans.

Second legs are scheduled for 26–28 September across the continent. The winners advance to the second preliminary round on 17–19 and 24–26 October; the group stage begins 21 November.

The broader pathway also matters. Africa’s heaviest hitters, including record winners Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, enter in the next round.

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Nigeria’s Remo Stars took a giant step toward history on Sunday, blowing away Comoros champions US Zilimadjou 4–0 in their CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg match.

The Sky Blue Stars, who had stumbled at the first hurdle in each of their past three continental campaigns, now look well-placed to finally break the cycle and advance to the next stage.

It was a statement performance in Ikenne, where Lamine Ndenge settled early nerves with a 12th-minute opener. Ebuka Anthony doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time, giving the Nigerian side a comfortable cushion heading into the break.

The second half saw Remo Stars turn on the style. Malian import Adams Goïta smashed home the third in the 69th minute before Seun Olasupo completed the rout with a composed finish 10 minutes from time.

Beyond the scoreline, the performance was even more impressive. Remo pressed aggressively out of possession and moved the ball swiftly through the thirds, overwhelming their visitors with speed and precision.

With a commanding four-goal advantage, Remo Stars will travel for the return leg in Comoros with confidence, knowing that one more step could secure them a long-sought breakthrough on the continent.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigerian champions, Remo Stars, will begin their CAF Champions League campaign this Sunday with a preliminary round clash against US Zilimadjou of Comoros at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The Sky Blue Stars, making another attempt at continental success, are widely tipped as favourites against the island nation’s representatives.

Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has admitted the weight of expectation but says his team is ready to deliver a strong performance at home.

Remo Stars come into the game off a busy domestic schedule in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Though their unbeaten start was halted recently by a 2-0 loss to Plateau United, the Nigerian champions remain confident that regular competitive action has sharpened their squad for the continental stage.

Their opponents, US Zilimadjou, arrive with pedigree as multiple Comoros Premier League winners.

However, they face a major hurdle: their domestic season ended in July and the next campaign does not resume until October, leaving them short of match fitness.

The club has experience in Champions League qualifiers but has struggled to advance in past editions.

The tactical battle is expected to pit Remo Stars’ high-tempo attacking style against Zilimadjou’s likely cautious and counter-attacking approach.

Analysts predict that the Nigerians will dominate possession while the visitors seek to frustrate and snatch an away goal.

With the tie to be decided over two legs, Ogunmodede’s men are aware that a convincing result at home is vital. Football analysts forecast a low-scoring affair, with a 1-0 or 2-0 win for the hosts seen as the most probable outcome.

The return leg also in Abeokuta will determine which side advances to the second preliminary round and keeps alive the dream of a place in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.

Although Remo Stars have been on the continental stage in the past three seasons, this seems to be their best chance of advancing beyond the first round.

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