In a night of high drama and sensational football, JS Kabylie showcased their dominance by thrashing Bibiani Gold Stars 5-0, while Power Dynamos pulled off a surprising feat by knocking out Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas on penalties during the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Kabylie’s Explosive Performance
JS Kabylie set the tone for the evening with a commanding performance in Tizi-Ouzou. The match against Bibiani Gold Stars saw Kabylie take an early lead with an own goal from Emmanuel Kobi, which opened the floodgates for more scoring opportunities.
Ryad Boudebouz then doubled their advantage before the half-hour mark. In the second half, with Gold Stars reduced to ten men after Emmanuel Ankrah’s dismissal, Kabylie capitalized on the numerical advantage. A flurry of goals from Mehdi Reda Merghem, Lahlou Akhrib, and Oualid Malki capped off a stunning 5-0 victory, allowing them to progress with a resounding aggregate score of 7-0.
Al Hilal Club of Sudan
Power Dynamos Upset ASEC Mimosas
In a surprising twist, Power Dynamos faced ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan, where the match ended 1-1 on aggregate after a tense battle. ASEC looked to take control when Souleymane Fofana scored to level the tie. However, the tide turned dramatically when Seydou Sacko received a red card, leaving the Ivorian side a player short.
With neither team able to score in the remaining time, the decision fell to a penalty shootout. Emerging victorious, Dynamos calmly converted all five penalties, while Romaric Amoussou of ASEC missed the crucial fifth penalty, handing the Zambians a spot in the next round after a disciplined away performance.
Other Teams That Progressed
Meanwhile, Sudanese Al-Hilal advanced with a narrow 1-0 victory over Jamus in Omdurman, Sudan, thanks to a well-placed goal from Jean Girumugisha. The Sudanese side will now face Kenya Police FC in the next round, adding a compelling match-up to look forward to.
Kenya Police FC
Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive also moved forward, securing a 1-0 away victory against Jaraaf in Dakar, while Al Ahly Tripoli progressed with a single goal over two legs, relying on an own goal from Sewanou Winsavi to secure a professional 1-0 victory against Dadjè of Benin.
Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou made quick work of Fundación Bata, finishing 2-0 on aggregate, with Cheikh Elwely and Cheikh Hattab scoring the important goals to ensure their advancement.
Power Dynamos
Looking Ahead
With the completion of the first preliminary round, the six teams that progressed set their sights on the second round, just one step away from the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League.
Kabylie’s emphatic performance signals them as a team to watch, while the upcoming clash between Al-Hilal and Kenya Police promises to be an intriguing affair in this next chapter of the tournament.