Espérance de Tunis once again asserted its superiority in the CAF Champions League by delivering a masterful performance during the second preliminary round.
After a convincing 3-0 win in Niamey, the Tunisian club dominated AS FAN on their home ground with a final score of 4-1. Youcef Belaïli, true to his reputation, opened the scoring in the 20th minute, giving his team a decisive advantage they never relinquished. Yan Sasse, Ibrahima Keita, and Yassine Meriah, the latter from a penalty, completed the tally to finalize this overwhelming victory which takes Espérance to a cumulative elimination score of 7-1.
Morocco was also honored with two solid clubs securing their passage to the next round. RS Berkane, bringing back a valuable draw from Togo, quickly dispelled suspense by beating ASC Kara 3-1, notably thanks to a brace by Oussama Lamlioui, who played a decisive match. AS FAR Rabat also ensured qualification by dominating Real de Banjul 2-1 at home, with a penalty by Reda Slim definitively securing their lead. These two Moroccan teams, champions and strong representatives respectively, display strong ambition for the continuation of the competition.
On the Algerian side, MC Alger also established their dominance in the return match against Liberians from Fassell. After a goalless first leg, the Algerians triumphed 3-0 at home, supported by goals from Ayoub Abdellaoui, Soufiane Bayazid, and Amine Messoussa. This clear victory opens the doors to the next round, strengthening their position in this 2025-2026 edition of the CAF Champions League.
Partial results of these return matches marked an important milestone in the competition, with most qualifications decided by wide aggregate scores. Besides the mentioned clubs, several African teams such as Orlando Pirates, Young Africans, Horoya, and Petro Luanda also secured their passage to the next round. This intense preliminary phase announces an exciting continuation in the quest for the prestigious African Clubs Champions Cup.