The 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League began on Friday with three first-leg encounters setting the tone for a busy preliminary round weekend.
Tanzania’s Young Africans stole the spotlight, cruising to a commanding 3–0 away win over Angola’s Wiliete. Ugandan giants Vipers SC also made a strong start with a 1–0 victory at African Stars in Namibia, while Benin’s Dadjè held Libyan outfit Al Ahly Tripoli to a goalless draw in Cotonou.
Young Africans, last season’s Tanzanian champions, produced a clinical display in Benguela. Aziz Andabwile opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before John Edmund and Prince Dube added late goals to seal a dominant win, leaving Yanga with three away goals and a clean sheet ahead of the return leg in Dar es Salaam.
In Namibia, Vipers SC struck early through defender Hillary Mukundane, who converted from a set piece after 14 minutes. The visitors then maintained a disciplined defensive shape to frustrate African Stars, taking a narrow but vital advantage back to Kitende.
Meanwhile, Dadjè and Al Ahly Tripoli remain finely balanced after a tight 0–0 stalemate. With few chances created, the Libyans will be satisfied to return home level, though Dadjè’s resilience suggests the second leg in Tripoli will be far from straightforward.
Action continues across the continent this weekend before the second legs between 26–28 September decide who progresses to October’s second preliminary round.
With the group stage scheduled to begin on 21 November, heavyweights including Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, defending champions Pyramids, and Rwanda’s APR lie in wait at the next hurdle.
For Friday’s winners, the task is to finish the job next week; for the others, home advantage offers a final chance to keep their CAF Champions League dreams alive.
