Like the Champions League, the second preliminary round first leg was on the program this weekend in the Confederation Cup (the African equivalent of the Europa League). And a huge surprise was to report from the start. Defending and recent African Super Cup winner, RS Berkane conceded a heavy defeat in Nigeria once morest Kwara (3-1). The Moroccans nevertheless led in the score for more than an hour following the goal of Burkinabè Djibril Ouattara before being knocked down during the last quarter of an hour! It is therefore a handicap of 2 goals that will have to be overcome in a week at home on the return.
The other Moroccan representative, the FAR Rabat, fared much better by crushing the Guineans of Ashanti 4-0. Mixed results also for the two Algerian representatives since USM Alger carried out a good operation by winning 2-0 in Togo once morest ASC Kara on a CSC and a penalty, while JS Saoura had fallen 1-0 in Ivory Coast once morest SC Gagnoa the day before.
While the two Tunisian clubs, CS Safxien (0-0 in Ethiopia once morest Fasil Kenema) and Club Africain (0-0 in Zanzibar once morest Kipanga), brought home a goalless draw from their trip, the two clubs of RD Congo won: 2-0 at home for Saint-Eloi Lupopo once morest Sagrada Esperança and 1-0 away for DC Motema Pembe once morest St Michel United in the Seychelles.
The results of the second preliminary round of the Confederation Cup:
Sunday
Elgeco Plus (MAD) 1–3 Gallant Spears (AFS)
Fasil Kenema SC (ETH) 0–0 CS Sfaxien (TUN)
Royal AM FC (AFS) 0–0 Zesco United (ZAM)
Kwara United (NGA) 3–1 RS Berkane (MAR)
ASCK (TOG) 0–2 USM Alger (ALG)
Kallon FC (SLE) 0-2 Future FC (ONE)
FAR Rabat (MAR) 4–0 Anglogold Ashanti Golden Boys Siguiri (AAGBS)(GUI)
Saturday
St Michel United (SEY) 0–1 DC Motema Pembe (RDC)
Kigali Sports Association (RWA) 0–0 Al-Nasr (LBY)
Ferroviario Da Beira (MOZ) 2–1 Diables Noirs (CGO)
Saint-Eloi Lupopo (RDC) 2–0 Sagrada Esperança (AGO)
SC Gagnoa (CIV) 1–0 JS Saoura (ALG)
AS Real (MLI) 3–0 Hearts of Oak (GHA)
Hilal Alsahil (SOU) 0-2 Pyramids FC (ONE)
Kipanga FC (ZAN) 0–0 Club Africain (TUN)
Al-Akhder (LBY) 3-0 Azam FC (TAN)