The 2024-25 CAF Champions League season is officially underway, with Fridays matches bringing wins for Dekedaha FC of Somalia and Eswatinis Mbabane Swallows.
The first round of the qualification phase got underway in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, where Djiboutis Arta Solar hosted Dekedaha. The visitors secured a 2-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Adam Haggio and Idris Bilal, making them clear favourites to advance into the next round and face seeded heavyweights Esperance de Tunis.
In Bamako, Mali, Milo FC of Guinea were held to a 0-0 draw by Mauritanias FC Nouadhibou leaving their tie very much in the balance while Mbabane Swallows secured a 1-0 win over Ferroviario da Beira of Mozambique at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane, South Africa.
Umkhonto Kashaka secured their victory thanks to a goal early in the second half from Karim Madja. They will face a tough return game in Maputo next weekend, but the prize on offer is a second round tie against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The first round qualifying ties continue on Saturday, headlined by Young Africans of Tanzania away to Burundis VitalO and Nigers ASGNN hosting Moroccan heavyweights Raja Casablanca.
