- CAF Champions League 2026/27 | Preliminary Round, 2nd Leg
- Young Africans SC (Tanzania) 2-1 Gaborone United (Botswana) [Aggregate 3-2]
Peter Shalulile etched his name into the early folklore of Young Africans’ continental campaign, striking a crucial blow as the Tanzanian champions ground out a tense 2-1 victory over Botswana’s Gaborone United on Saturday.
The slender win at the Azam Complex sealed a hard-earned 3-2 aggregate triumph for the Jangwani Street giants, erasing the tension of a 1-1 stalemate from the first leg in Gaborone and safely securing their passage into the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.
With the hurdle of Gaborone United cleared, Yanga head coach Manqoba Mngqithi and his squad must immediately pivot their focus toward Madagascar’s CFFA. The Malagasy side booked their own ticket by brushing aside Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC 2-0 on aggregate, setting up a high-stakes showdown that stands as the final barrier between Yanga and the lucrative CAF Champions League group stage.
The road ahead offers no margin for error. CAF has scheduled the first legs of the decisive second preliminary round for October 16-18, with the return fixtures locked in for October 23-25.
Saturday’s continental action also saw sweeping successes elsewhere for regional contenders. In Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium, Sudan’s Al Hilal SC polished off a dominant 3-0 aggregate victory, edging Aigle Noir FC 1-0 on the day.
South Sudan’s El Merriekh SC Bentiu similarly cruised past Somalia’s Heegan FC with a commanding 3-0 away win, sealing a 4-0 aggregate rout. Meanwhile, Al Merrikh SC of Sudan silenced the home crowd in Zambia, defeating Power Dynamos FC 1-0 to advance 2-0 on aggregate.
As the preliminary rounds roll on, the continental spotlight shifts to Sunday’s fixtures, where Zanzibar’s KVZ FC travels to face Libya’s Swehly FC, Uganda’s Vipers SC tackles FC Nouadhibou in Mauritania, Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC takes on Egyptian heavyweights Pyramids FC, and domestic rivals Simba SC welcome Mighty Wanderers FC to Tanzania.