The battle for places in the group stage of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 reaches a decisive stage this weekend, with clubs across Africa set for crucial second-leg matches in the second qualifying round.

After a tense round of first-leg encounters, most ties remain finely balanced, while a few teams carry commanding advantages into their decisive return fixtures.

The weekend action kicks off on Friday, October 24, as Power Dynamos host Al Hilal in Lusaka hoping to overturn a 2-1 deficit, while Vipers SC face Kenya Police in Kampala with everything still to play for. In North Africa, ES Tunis will look to complete the job at home after snatching a 1-0 win away to Rahimo of Burkina Faso. A similar sense of confidence surrounds JS Kabylie, who take a 3-0 cushion into their home fixture against Monastir in Tizi Ouzou.

Saturday’s schedule promises high drama. Young Africans will look to bounce back from a 1-0 loss when they welcome Silver Strikers to Dar es Salaam, while Petro de Luanda aim to consolidate their 2-0 first-leg advantage against Stade d’Abidjan in Angola. Defending champions Al Ahly return to the Cairo International Stadium with a slender 1-0 lead over Aigle Noir, and AS FAR host Horoya AC in Rabat after a 1-1 draw in Conakry.

In Johannesburg, Orlando Pirates face the toughest task of the round after suffering a shock 3-0 defeat to Saint Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi. The Buccaneers must produce a remarkable comeback at home on Saturday to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Sunday’s fixtures wrap up the decisive weekend, with Simba SC defending a 3-0 lead over Nsingizini Hotspurs in Dar es Salaam, while Mamelodi Sundowns look comfortably placed after their emphatic 5-1 away win against Remo Stars, ahead of the return leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. MC Alger will also be in action at home to Colombe after a 1-1 stalemate in Cameroon.

At the end of the weekend, the winners will book their spots in the prestigious CAF Champions League group stage, joining Africa’s elite in the quest for continental supremacy.

CAF Champions League Qualifiers Fixtures: 

Friday, 24 October

• 13h00 GMT | Power Dynamos v Vipers
• 16h00 GMT | Al Hilal Kenya Police

Saturday, 25 October

• 13h00 GMT | Orlando Pirates v Saint Eloi Lupopo
• 14h00 GMT | Young Africans v Silver Strikers
• 15h00 GMT | Rivers United v Black Bulls
• 16h00 GMT | Petro de Luanda v Stade d’Abidjan
• 17h00 GMT | Al Ahly v Aigle Noir
• 18h00 GMT | JS Kabyile v Monastir
• 19h00 GMT | AS Far v Horoya

Sunday, 26 October

• 13h30 GMT | Mamelodi Sundowns v Remo Stars
• 16h00 GMT | ES Tunis v Rahimo
• 16h00 GMT | Stade Malien v Nouadhibou
• 19h00 GMT | MC Alger v Colombe
• 19h00 GMT | RS Berkane v Al Ahly Tripoli

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By Kunle Solaja

Remo Stars’ preparations for their CAF Champions League return leg against Mamelodi Sundowns have been thrown into disarray following visa delays by the South African Consulate General in Lagos.

Despite the Nigerian club’s early application for travel documents, only a fraction of the team received entry visas, forcing the cancellation of their initial travel plans.

Club officials told Sports Village Square that out of 43 visa applications submitted on October 10—nine days before last Sunday’s first leg in Abeokuta—only 11 were initially approved. The number was later increased to 26, but just 12 were players.

As a result, Remo Stars had to cancel their early Thursday morning flight booking with Air Tanzania and their hotel reservations in South Africa.

Officials of the club expressed concern that the delay could amount to an attempt to frustrate their participation in the return leg of the competition, which follows Sundowns’ emphatic 5–1 win in the first leg.

The incident mirrors a similar episode in September 2024, when the South African Consulate in Abuja reportedly denied visas to Nigeria’s Junior D’Tigers basketball team, preventing them from attending an international engagement.

Remo Stars are now racing against time to secure the remaining travel permits before the crucial fixture this weekend

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By Kunle Solaja

The CAF Champions League 2025/26 second preliminary round produced fireworks on Sunday, with several African powerhouses asserting early dominance.

Among the standout results was a ruthless display by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who humiliated Nigeria’s Remo Stars 5–1 in Abeokuta to all but seal qualification for the group stage.

It is the first time a Nigerian club conceded five goals in a home match of a continental competition.

The match, played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, saw the South African champions impose themselves from the outset, showing why they remain one of the continent’s most formidable sides.

Tashreeq Matthews opened the scoring early in the first half, capitalising on a defensive lapse by the home side.

Remo Stars, making only their second appearance in the competition, struggled to match the pace and precision of their visitors.

Before the break, Peter Shalulile doubled Sundowns’ advantage, converting a direct ball from goal kick to beat the entire field as Remo Stars players probably thought the player was offside.

However, there are exceptions to offside rule as players cannot be offside when they receive the ball directly from throw-in, corner kick or goal kick.

The goal highlighted Mamelodi Sundowns’ superior technical quality and tactical discipline.

The second half turned into a one-sided affair. Miguel Reisinho made it 3–0 in the 61st minute, effectively ending any hopes of a Remo Stars comeback.

As the Nigerians pushed forward in search of a response, they were repeatedly punished on the counter. Arthur Sales and Tsiki Ntsabeleng added two more goals to complete the rout and underline Sundowns’ clinical edge.

Remo Stars’ only moment of joy came in the 77th minute, when Samson Olasupo scored a consolation goal following a scramble in the Sundowns’ penalty area. However, it was little more than a brief respite in a night dominated by the visitors’ attacking brilliance.

The 5–1 result leaves the South Africans with one foot firmly in the group stage ahead of the return leg in Pretoria next weekend. For Remo Stars, the daunting task now is to salvage pride and experience from what has been a harsh lesson at the top level of African club football.

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