Sunday’s slate of matchups in the 2022-23 CAF Champions League did not feature a shocking upset like when Vipers took down former African champions TP Mazembe but there was still plenty of drama to be had with group stage spots on the line. There was little suspense in Casablanca where defending African champions Wydad AC eased their way to a dominant second leg victory against Nigeria’s Rivers United after falling 2-1 in the first leg. After the visitors from Rivers State held out for the opening half hour they cracked under the pressure as Ayoub El Amloud opened the scoring before Rivers goalkeeper Mutawakilu Seidu was sent off for a foolish elbow on Wydad captain Yahya Jabrane. Jabrane converted two penalty kicks and Senegalese striker Bouly Sambou scored twice in a 6-0 second leg win to confirm Wydad’s group stage spot.

A tight West African matchup between Guinean champions Horoya AC and Ivorian titans ASEC Mimosas created the most tension and drama for the day. After falling 1-0 in Ivory Coast in the first leg, ASEC’s Aubin Kramo leveled the aggregate score in the 73rd minute but just when it seemed the tie was heading for a penalty kick shootout, Mohamed Fofana’s perfectly placed header won it for Horoya and sparked wild celebrations on the Stade General Lansana Conté pitch.

Tanzania’s giants experienced different fates on Sunday. Simba SC cruised to a 4-1 aggregate victory over Angolan club Primeiro de Agosto, winning 1-0 in Dar es Salaam after an excellent 3-1 road victory in the first leg. Reigning Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara champions Young Africans SC could not overcome a poor first leg result, falling 1-0 in Sudan to Al-Hilal Omdurman for a 2-1 aggregate defeat. Florent Ibengé’s side jumped on Yanga early with Yaser Muzmel’s excellent dribble run and cross setting up Mohamed Abdelrahman for an easy 3rd minute winner.

Cameroon’s Coton Sport edged Eswatini side Royal Leopards 2-1 at home to win 3-2 on aggregate and Burkina Faso’s Rail Club du Kadiogo played to a 0-0 draw against AS Vita Club of DR Congo. RCK and Vita Club will meet for the second leg on Thursday due to the first leg being delayed.

Highlights from all six of Sunday’s matches are below.

Simba SC (Tanzania) 1-0 Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)

Simba SC win 4-1 on aggregate

Rail Club du Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) 0-0 AS Vita Club (DRC)

First leg; Second leg will be played October 20

Horoya AC (Guinea) 1-1 ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast)

Horoya AC win 2-1 on aggregate

Coton Sport (Cameroon) 2-1 Royal Leopards (Eswatini)

Coton Sport win 3-2 on aggregate

Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) 1-0 Young Africans SC (Tanzania)

Al-Hilal Omdurman win 2-1 on aggregate

Wydad AC (Morocco) 6-0 Rivers United (Nigeria)

Wydad AC win 7-2 on aggregate

Wydad AC 6-0 Rivers United

Horoya AC 1-1 ASEC Mimosas

Al-Hilal Omdurman 1-0 Young Africans SC

Simba SC 1-0 Primeiro de Agosto

Rail Club du Kadiogo 0-0 AS Vita Club