Fofanah scores as Merrikh rolls out of CAF Champions League

Sierra Leone International Sheka Fofanah scored on his CAF Champions League debut for Sudanese top-tier side and 2015 African Champions League semi-finalists Al Merreikh of Sudan, but his goal was not enough as the Botswana side qualified 4-2 on aggregate.

The jam-packed Khartoum stadium was treated to a very entertaining encounter.

Township Rollers are through to the next phase of the competition despite losing 2-1 on Wednesday evening at the Al-Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman.

The visitors, having won their first leg home tie 3-0 in Gaborone last February 10th, took the early lead from Joel Mogorosi, who scored from a header of a corner kick in the 4th minutes.

Fofanah, 20, who bagged his first two-goals for Al-Merrikh against Wad Hashim Sennars in the Sudanese league on Thursday, levelled the scoreline in the 20th minutes with a superb strike chipping the visiting keeper from outside the box.

Ahmed Hamed gave the host the lead in the 82nd minute’s from a direct free kick outside the 18-yard box after a difficult period in a tight contest.

However, the visitors will roll out of Khartoum town with their heads up high after eliminating the fifth best team in Africa.

The Botswana league leaders will take on Dar es Salaam-based club Young Africans in the first round proper of this year’s competition.

CAF Champions League First Round Second Leg
Fulltime: Al-Merrikh SC 2-1 Township Rollers FC
(Sheka Fofana 20′ Ahmed Hamed 82′ | Joel Mogorosi 4′)
(AGGREGATE: 2-4)

African Champions League results – preliminary round 2nd leg

Tuesday’s Results:

Williamsville (Ivory Coast) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali) (Williamsville win 2-1 on aggregate)
Olympic Real Bangui (CAR) 0-0 Entente Setif (Algeria) (Entente Setif win 6-0 on aggregate)
Al Hilal (Sudan) 3-0 LISCR (Liberia) (Al Hilal win 3-1 on aggregate)

Al Salam Wau (South Sudan) v Saint George (Ethiopia) (St George advance after Wau withdrew)

Wednesday’s Results:

KCCA (Uganda) 1-0 CNaPs Sport (Madagascar) (KCCA win on away goals 2-2 on aggregate)
Mouloudia Alger (Algeria) 9-0 Otoho (Congo) (Mouloudia win 9-2 on aggregate)
Mounana (Gabon) 2-0 Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) (Mounana win 2-1 on aggregate)
Horoya (Guinea) 0-0 AS FAN (Niger) (Horoya win 3-1 on aggregate)
Misr Lel-Makkasa (Egypt) 0-0 Generation Foot (Senegal) (Generation Foot win 2-0 on aggregate)
Saint Louis (Seychelles) 1-1 Young Africans (Tanzania) (Young Africans win 2-1 on aggregate)
Al Merreikh (Sudan) 2-1 Township Rollers (Botswana) (Township Rollers win 4-2 on aggregate)
Leones Vegetarianos (Equatorial Guinea) 1-1 Gor Mahia (Kenya) (Gor Mahia win 3-1 on aggregate)
Esperance (Tunisia) 5-0 Concorde (Mauritania) (Esperance win 6-1 on aggregate
Togo-Port (Togo) 2-1 AC Leopards (Congo) (Port win 3-3 on aggregate)
Zesco Utd (Zambia) 7-0 JKU (Zanzibar) (Zesco win 7-0 on aggregate)
Benfica (Guniea Bissau) 0-0 Difaa el Jadida (Morocco) (Jadida win 10-0 on aggregate)
Pamplemousses (Mauritius) 1-0 Wits (South Africa) (Wits win 2-1 on aggregate)
LLB Academic (Burundi) 0-1 Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (Rayon win 2-1 on aggregate)