Orange Champions League

Saturday

Recreativo 0-1 APR
Club African 1-0 Sahel
Esperance 3-2 East End Lions
Zanaco 4-0 URA

APR will have to double their preparations and technical approach of their game when they face reigning champions TP Mazembe in the next round of the Orange CAF Champions League.

APR stormed the second round of the competition after beating Angola’s Recreativo Desportivo do Libolo 1-0 Saturday in the town of Calulo.

Ivorian born midfielder Sellar Didier scored the winner as they military side qualified to the second round on a 3-2 goal aggregates. The military side had played a 2-all draw played in the first leg in Kigali.

However, Erik Paske’s side will have their hands full when they take on the holders TP Mazembe. The first leg will be played in Kigali on the weekend of March 19-21 while the second round will be played in Lumumbashi two weeks later.

TP Mazembe recruited heavily after winning the continental title last year bringing in players from Zimbabwean side Monomotapa United namely; Mthulisi Maphosa, Darryl Nyanadro, Christopher Samakwere and forward Daniel Zokoto as well as Zambian defenders of  Hichani Himoonde and Stopilla Sunzu. They also bought Congolese centre-half Joel Kimuaki, who made his name with Belgium’s Standard Liege.

Mazembe’s strengths lie in attack with three effective front men led by talismanic Tresor Mputu who have all together scored 126 goals in 62 matches last year.

TP Mazembe enjoyed a year of renaissance last year after winning their third CAF Champions League trophy in front of their home fans in Lubumbashi 41 years after.

Menwhile, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) were eliminated from the competition after going down 4-0 to hosts Zanaco in Lusaka.

Ends