Three clubs secured their places in the group stage of the 2023-24 CAF Champions League on Friday and it was an easy day for the representatives from Egypt. Defending champions Al Ahly had no trouble finishing the job against Ethiopian champions Saint George with a 4-0 second leg victory to follow up their 3-0 first leg dominance. Mohamed Magdy “Afsha” and forward Kahraba each scored twice on Friday in a routine victory.
Another Cairo club is through to the group stage after Pyramids FC scored early and often against Rwanda’s APR. Mostafa Fathi opened the scoring with a well struck effort in the 18th minute and found the net three more times along with finishes from Walid El Karti and his Moroccan compatriot Mohamed Chibi. APR converted a late penalty kick but their defensive approach was no match for the high priced Pyramids side.
The most suspense on Friday involved South Africa’s Orlando Pirates who hosted Botswana champions Jwaneng Galaxy in Johannesburg for the second leg following a 1-0 defeat in the first leg played in Botswana. After an uneventful first half the hosts laid siege to the Galaxy defense and it was a shot from Pirates substitute Evidence Makgopa that took a series of deflections on its way in for the 66th minute equalizer.
Neither team could find the winning goal and penalty kicks were needed after the ninety minutes. Ghana national team goalkeeper Richard Ofori was brought in as a late substitute by Pirates coach José Riveiro but it was Galaxy shot stopper Goitseone Phoko who was the hero after he denied 18-year-old Pirates attacker Relebohile Mofokeng in the fourth round of kicks. Galaxy converted all five of their penalties to finish the job and stun the South African club in their stadium.
Highlights from all three second leg matches are below.
Scores
Pyramids FC (Egypt) 6-1 APR FC (Rwanda)
Pyramids FC advance 6-1 on aggregate
Al Ahly (Egypt) 4-0 Saint George (Ethiopia)
Al Ahly advance 7-0 on aggregate
Orlando Pirates (S. Africa) 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
Tied 1-1 on aggregate; Jwaneng Galaxy advance 5-4 in penalty kicks
Highlights
Al Ahly 4-0 Saint George
Pyramids FC 6-1 APR FC
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy (Highlights)
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy (Penalty Kicks)
