South African team Sekhukhune, founded in 2019, has qualified for the group stage of the CAF Cup in its first appearance in an African competition. Académica Petróleos Clube from Angola achieved the same feat. The rest of the qualifiers are mostly regulars in the top 16.
Sekhukhune has done it. For the first time in its history, the South African club will play in the group stage of an African competition. Founded in 2019 and winner of the South African Cup 2023, the South African club has qualified for the top 16 of the CAF Cup. It wasn't a foregone conclusion, however. Sekhukhune had to overcome FC Lupopo of DR Congo. The South Africans did the hard work in the first leg, winning 3-1. On Sunday, they validated their qualification with a 1-1 draw after coming from behind.
Académica Petróleos Clube are also through to the group phase of the CAF Cup. The Angolans made short work of El Merreikh Juba of South Sudan, who were beaten 3-0 on Sunday after a 0-0 first-leg draw.
Defending champions tremble but go through
The clash of the 2nd preliminary round pitted CAF Cup holders USM Alger against FUS Rabat. In the end, it was the Algerians who went through thanks to an away goal. They kept a clean sheet (0-0), after drawing 1-1 in Rabat. It was a nightmare weekend for the Rabatis. Yesterday, the city's other club, Moroccan champions AS Far Rabat, were eliminated from the CAF Champions League.
The 16 teams in the group stage
Zamalek (Egypt), Abu Salem (Libya), Dreams (Ghana), CO Coyah (Guinea), Al-Hilal Bengazhi (Libya), Sagrada Esperanca (Angola), Stade Malien (Mali), SuperSport United (South Africa), RS Berkane (Morocco), Diables Noirs (Congo), Sekhukhune (South Africa), Club Africain (Tunisia), Futur FC (Egypt), River United (Nigeria), Académica Petróleos Clube (Angola).
