CAF Champions League: Yanga Rout CFFA as APR Fall Late to Zamalek

Young Africans took a big step towards the CAF Champions League group stage with a 4-0 first-leg win over Madagascar's CFFA in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. Elsewhere in East Africa it was a harder weekend: APR conceded a late goal to Zamalek in Kigali, and Kenya's Gor Mahia and Uganda's Vipers were already out.

Here is where every East African side stands after the second preliminary round first legs, and what the return matches between 21 and 25 October will decide.

What is at stake in this round

The second preliminary round is the last hurdle before the group stage of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League. CAF's draw set the first legs for 16 to 18 October and the return legs for 23 to 25 October. The 16 winners go into the group phase, which starts at the end of November.

The prize is more than prestige. AFP, reporting through Citizen Digital, says clubs that reach the six-matchday group phase are guaranteed at least $500,000 in prize money. For clubs in this region, where budgets are tight, that is a season-changing sum.

Yanga 4-0 CFFA: three goals in 12 second-half minutes

The Tanzanian champions were the outstanding East African performers of the weekend. Officially it was an away match, but CFFA chose to play both legs in Tanzania because Madagascar does not have a CAF-approved stadium. Yanga made the most of playing at home in all but name.

Cheikh Touré opened the scoring before half-time. Albert Kangwanda added the second soon after the restart, and Mudathir Yahya and Maxi Nzengeli scored before the hour mark. Ahram Online's results list gives the goals at 39, 47, 54 and 59 minutes.

Four different scorers is a good sign for Yanga. Their first-round tie with Botswana's Gaborone United was much tighter: a 1-1 draw in Gaborone, then a 2-1 home win for a 3-2 aggregate victory, with Peter Shalulile among the scorers. This time the goals came from all over the team.

The return leg is set for Wednesday, 21 October, again in Dar es Salaam. CFFA need to overturn a four-goal deficit. Barring a collapse, Yanga look set for a fourth consecutive group-stage appearance, which would confirm them as East Africa's most consistent club on the continent right now.

APR left frustrated by Zamalek's late winner

Rwanda's champions APR hosted five-time African champions Zamalek at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday evening. The New Times reported that APR controlled large parts of the game but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

They were punished at the very end. Substitute Nasser Mansy scored in the final minute of normal time to give the Egyptians a 1-0 win. Sources give the goal as the 89th or 90th minute.

The return leg is in Cairo on 24 October. Zamalek go through with any draw. Goal noted that APR need to win by two goals, a tall order away to one of Africa's biggest clubs. APR have been trying for years to reach the group stage, so this one will hurt if they cannot turn it round.

Simba and the Ethiopian-Sudanese tie still to play

Simba's tie had not started by the end of the weekend. They face 15 de Agosto of Equatorial Guinea, who beat Comoros side Fomboni 5-0 on aggregate in the first round. Ahram Online's fixture list puts the first leg on Tuesday, 20 October, with the return due in the 23 to 25 October window.

Simba arrive in form. They won 1-0 away to Malawi's Mighty Wanderers in the first leg of the first round, then won the second leg 6-1 in Dar es Salaam for a 7-1 aggregate win. Clatous Chama scored twice in the home leg.

Ethiopia's Sidama Bunna and Sudan's Al Hilal were scheduled to meet on Sunday in the other tie with an East African flavour. Sidama reached this round by beating Aiglons 3-0 in the second leg after a goalless first leg. Al Hilal won 2-0 away to Burundi's Aigle Noir in their first leg.

Gor Mahia and Vipers: lessons from early exits

Kenyan fans have been watching from the sidelines. Gor Mahia drew Egypt's Pyramids in the first round and lost 7-1 on aggregate, 2-0 in the first leg and 5-1 in the second. Paul Okoth scored K'Ogalo's only goal of the tie.

Pyramids have kept winning. They beat South Sudan's El Merreikh Bentiu 1-0 in Juba on Friday, with Mahmoud Saber scoring the goal. That puts the Gor Mahia tie in context: the draw sent Kenya's champions against one of the strongest squads in Africa at the first hurdle.

Uganda's Vipers went out more narrowly. They drew 1-1 with Mauritania's FC Nouadhibou at Kitende, then drew 0-0 away, so Nouadhibou went through on away goals. The away goal conceded at Kitende cost the Venoms a place in this round. Nouadhibou then lost 2-1 away to Ivory Coast's FC San Pedro on Saturday.

For the region, the pattern is clear. The Tanzanian giants now have the depth to dominate early rounds. Kenyan and Ugandan champions are still exposed when the draw pairs them with North African clubs, and a single home mistake can be decisive.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the CAF Champions League second preliminary round return legs?

CAF scheduled the return legs for 23 to 25 October 2026. Yanga's second leg against CFFA is earlier, on Wednesday, 21 October, because both legs are being played in Tanzania.

Which East African clubs can still reach the group stage?

Young Africans and Simba from Tanzania, APR from Rwanda, Sidama Bunna from Ethiopia and Al Hilal from Sudan were all still involved after the weekend. Yanga are the best placed after their 4-0 first-leg win.

Why are Kenyan clubs not in the CAF Champions League group stage race?

Gor Mahia, Kenya's representative, were eliminated in the first round by Pyramids FC of Egypt, 7-1 on aggregate.

How much do group-stage clubs earn?

According to AFP, clubs that reach the group phase are guaranteed at least $500,000 in prize money.

With Yanga close to the groups, APR needing a big result in Cairo and Simba yet to play, the coming week will decide how many East African clubs are in the draw for the CAF Champions League group stage. Scorer254 will follow every return leg.