{"id":86400,"date":"2025-09-20T18:19:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T18:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash"},"modified":"2025-09-20T19:07:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T19:07:15","slug":"real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash","title":{"rendered":"Real De Banjul in Champions League Clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>The Caf Champions League roars back this weekend with 30 first-leg ties scattered across the continent, the opening move in a campaign that stretches to March\u2019s knockouts. Gambian champion Real de Banjul is in Morocco to meet Morocco\u2019s AS FAR. RABAT. Here are the full fixtures and analysis of the Caf champions league first leg.<\/b><\/p>\n

For dozens of clubs, the immediate target is modest but vital: establish a platform at home, travel well next week and claim a place in October\u2019s second preliminary round\u2014where some of Africa\u2019s heaviest hitters are waiting.<\/p>\n

Record winners Al Ahly and South Africa\u2019s Mamelodi Sundowns skip this stage alongside holders Pyramids FC, who will meet Rwanda\u2019s APR in the next phase.<\/p>\n

The size of the field\u2014a record 62 entrants\u2014speaks to the competition\u2019s pull, while CAF\u2019s USD 100,000 subsidy for clubs eliminated in the first two rounds underlines a drive to widen access.<\/p>\n

There is no shortage of intrigue in the fixtures. East End Lions (SLE) v US Monastirienne (TUN) headlines the slate, a classic West\u2013North Africa clash pitting the Lions\u2019 raw power and fervent Freetown backing against a Monastir side drilled in continental football.<\/p>\n

The winner earns a date with Bibiani Gold Stars (GHA) or JS Kabylie (ALG), with Kabylie\u2019s storied history making that mini-bracket especially compelling.<\/p>\n

FC Fassell (LBR) host ASC Jaraaf (SEN) in Monrovia with the carrot of MC Alger in the next round. Jaraaf\u2019s streetwise midfield will test Fassell\u2019s tempo, though the Liberians have made their home ground a noisy asset.In Cotonou, Dadje\u0300 FC (BEN) meet Libya\u2019s first representative in a tie whose victor could quickly find themselves measuring up to RS Berkane or ASCK (TOG)\u2014both sides accustomed to knock-out arm-wrestles.<\/p>\n

From Nigeria, Remo Stars\u2014slick, possession-minded and fast improving\u2014face Comoros champions US Zilimadjou. Win here, and Sundowns loom in round two, a glamorous but daunting reward.<\/p>\n

Simba Bhora (ZIM), meanwhile, take on Nsingizini Hotspurs (SWZ), a pathway that could run through Gaborone United and ultimately to a blockbuster Tanzanian derby with Simba SC next month.<\/p>\n

The meeting between Power Dynamos (ZAM) and ASEC Mimosas (CIV) is a heavyweight early test.<\/p>\n

ASEC\u2019s academy-polished attack has flourished on the continent; Dynamos counter with set-piece threat and a capacity Dar es Salaam crowd when they travel for the return leg.<\/p>\n

Whoever advances will likely see African Stars (NAM) or Vipers SC (UGA)\u2014two sides that press high and play on fast transitions.<\/p>\n

In Ouagadougou, Rahimo FC (BFA) welcome AS Mangasport (GAB), with the winners set to face the victor of Forces Arme\u0301es (NIG) v Espe\u0301rance de Tunis (TUN)\u2014a draw that could land a traditional giant in round two.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, travel and surfaces will matter: coastal humidity in West Africa, altitude in parts of Southern Africa and tight turnarounds between legs will stretch squad depth as much as tactics.<\/p>\n

The brief is clear for hosts this weekend (19\u201321 September): protect the clean sheet and build a cushion for next week\u2019s returns (26\u201328 September).<\/p>\n

Away teams, many playing their first continental minutes of the season, will aim for sterile draws, away goals and games that can be killed on home turf.<\/p>\n

Victory over 180 minutes unlocks an October shot (17\u201319 and 24\u201326) at the group stage, due to begin on 21 November 2025.<\/p>\n

From there, the road bends towards the quarter-finals in March 2026\u2014and a chance to etch a name into Africa\u2019s most prestigious roll of honour.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. The Caf Champions League roars back this weekend with 30 first-leg ties scattered across the continent, the opening move in a campaign that stretches to March\u2019s knockouts. Gambian champion Real de Banjul is in Morocco to meet Morocco\u2019s AS FAR. RABAT. Here are the full fixtures and analysis of the Caf champions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":86399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-86400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\nReal De Banjul in Champions League Clash - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Caf Champions League roars back this weekend with 30 first-leg ties scattered across the continent, the opening m ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Real De Banjul in Champions League Clash\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Caf Champions League roars back this weekend with 30 first-leg ties scattered across the continent, the opening m ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gambia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-20T18:19:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-20T19:07:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/09\/sm_1758382612.364785.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Real De Banjul in Champions League Clash\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-20T18:19:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-20T19:07:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\"},\"wordCount\":595,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/09\/sm_1758382612.364785.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Gambia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/real-de-banjul-in-champions-league-clash\",\"name\":\"Real De Banjul in Champions League Clash - 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