The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League kicked off its 2025/26 season with an electrifying start, highlighted by a stunning performance from Young Africans and a determined showing from Vipers SC across the continent on Friday.
Wiliete 0-3 Yanga
Young Africans set the tone with a resounding 3–0 victory in Angola against Wiliete, signaling their ambition to progress in the tournament. Last season’s Tanzanian champions displayed tactical excellence and composure throughout the match.
They broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Aziz Andabwile capitalized on sustained pressure down the right flank, finishing neatly from close range.
The visitors maintained control in the second half, adding to their tally with goals from John Edmund in the 72nd minute and a curling effort from Prince Dube in the 81st minute. With three away goals and a clean sheet, Young Africans have firmly positioned themselves for the return leg in Dar es Salaam.
African Stars 0-1 Viper SC
In Namibia, Vipers SC snatched an early 1–0 lead against African Stars in a tightly contested match. The Ugandans struck quickly, with defender Hillary Mukundane scoring from a set piece just 14 minutes into the game.
Vipers adopted a disciplined defensive strategy, allowing African Stars to push for the equalizer, yet the visitors remained steadfast, thwarting their attempts and controlling the rhythm of the game. Despite African Stars’ efforts in the second half, they found it challenging to penetrate Vipers’ organized defense, leaving them with work to do in the return leg in Kitende.
Elsewhere, in Cotonou, the clash between Benin’s Dadjè and Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli ended in a goalless draw, a result that leaves the tie finely poised for the second leg. Both sides demonstrated a preference for maintaining possession and control in midfield, resulting in limited goal-scoring opportunities.
While Al Ahly Tripoli will take comfort from securing a draw away from home, Dadjè’s solid organization presents a potential challenge in the upcoming matchup.
With more first-leg matches set to unfold over the weekend, the competition is heating up. Teams across the continent are gearing up for critical second legs scheduled between September 26 and 28, where the stakes are high and the margins thin.
The early rounds set the stage for a journey that will lead to October’s second preliminary round and eventually, the group stage commencing on November 21, where football heavyweights, including Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, await.
For Friday’s winners, the mission is clear: secure their advancement next week. For those trailing, the challenge is to harness the advantage of home support and turn the tide in a fiercely competitive tournament.
