City Through To Next CAFL Preliminary Round

Cape Town City are through to the CAF Champions League second preliminary round after they drew 0-0 with Congo-Brazzaville’s As Otoho in the second leg at the Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat, to win the first preliminary round tie 2-0 on aggregate.

City, who are competing in the CAFCL for the first time, led 2-0 after the first leg, played last week at the Athlone Stadium.

City thought they were in front in the 17th minute, but Craig Martin was ruled offside. Ten minutes later City’s goalkeeper Darren Keet made a good save in a one-on-one situation to keep it goalless.

Just before half-time City went close again, but this time Thabo Nodada’s effort struck the crossbar, and at the break in Brazzaville it remained goalless.

Wayde Lekay’s 56th-minute attempt was saved by Pavel Ndzila as City continued to look to add to their aggregate lead.

Time continued to tick on, and City’s skipper Thami Mkhize got behind the defence in the 74th minute, but his cross was cleared, and it remained goalless.

With time running out, City sub Jordan Bender forced a save from Ndzila, and it remained goalless.

There was late drama as Otoho were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, but the Congolese player missed from the spot and City were able to defend their first leg lead comfortably in the end, as it ended goalless in Brazzaville.

The Citizens will now meet last year’s semi-finalists Petro de Luanda in the second preliminary round, with the winner of the tie qualifying for the Group Stages. Former City goalkeeper Hugo Marques, the 2021/2022 PSL Goalkeeper of the Season, now plays for Petro.

In this week’s edition of iDiski Times, you can hear from Mamelodi Sundowns star, Khuliso Mudau, who talks about the demands players must face at the Brazilians, and their hope to defend all of their trophies. We also talk to AmaZulu forward Gabadinho Mhango who discusses his Pirates exit, his move to KZN and more. Read the full edition of iDiski Times below: