CAF Confederation Cup
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu make losing start in CAF Confederation Cup
Hosts EL Merriekh SC Bentiu have kick started their 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on a losing note.
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu suffered a 2-0 defeat to Azam FC (Tanzania) in the first leg of the first preliminary round match played at the Juba National Stadium on Saturday.
The game started ion a high with Azam FC dominating play, but El Merriekh SC Bentiu stood firm and defended well.
After 28 minutes Tanzanian International Fei Toto Salum put Azam FC ahead with a rebound after EL Merriekh SC Bentiu goalkeeper Monged Elneel had parried the ball back into play.
Skippered by Peter Chol and supported by the likes of Keer Mangar and Chieck Moukoro, EL Merriekh fought back strongly but failed to find the goals.
Samuel Akinbinu thought he had leveled matters after 44 minutes, but the referee canceled the goal for an offside incident.
In the second half DR Congo attacker Jephte Kitambala made it 2-0 for Azam FC after 68 minutes when he was quick to tap past goalkeeper Elneel.
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu made some changes, but still failed to break the AZM FC defending line.
“It is bad we failed to win at home and now we must work really hard ahead of the return leg in Tanzania,” said EL Merriekh SC Bentiu coach Ibrahim Hussein after the match.
The winner between the two sides over two legs will face winner between AS Port (Djibouti) and KMKM SC (Zanzibar) in the second preliminary round.
South Sudan Premier League side El Merriekh SC Bentiu have bowed out of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
After losing the first leg 2-0 in Juba, Azam FC defeated El Merriekh SC Bentiu by a similar score in the return leg of the first preliminary round played on Sunday at the Azam Stadium.
Yaro Diaby gave the home side the lead after 16 minutes. El Merriekh SC Bentiu tried to fight back strong to find goals, but failed to beat the Azam FC goalkeeper.
With two minutes of added time Nassor Saadun Hamoud scored Azam FC’s second goal to ensure the Tanzanian Premier League side qualified for the next round on a 4-0 aggregate.
“We tried to play as a team, but were not very effective in the finishing. We shall return to the drawing board and plan for the South Sudan Premier League now,” said Ibrahim Hussein, the El Merriekh SC Bentiu head coach.
This is the second straight year El Merriekh SC Bentiu fail to go past the first preliminary round of a CAF competition. Last season they failed to go past Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC in the first preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The head coach of EL Merriekh SC Bentiu, Ibrahim Hussein has said his team is well prepared to take on Azam FC in the first leg of the first preliminary round in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu will host the Tanzania Premier League side in the first leg on Saturday at the Juba National Stadium.
“We have prepared well starting with the pre-season in Uganda where we played some friendly matches and later continued with preparations here in Juba,” says coach Hussein.
He made it clear that although the Tanzanian side have more experience playing on the continent, EL Merriekh SC Bentiu will be all out to prove a point.
“ I know Azam very well. They are not a small team because they have the quality and experience. But our team is also big. We respect them, but everything will be decided on the pitch,” added the coach.
He made it clear that EL Merriekh SC Bentiu will fight with everything on the pitch to try and also make their fans proud.
Azam FC who signed experienced DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge last month has also made it clear that they respect the hosts.
“We know it is going to be a tough challenge and we do not underrate any team. Our mission here is to try and get a good result before the return leg,” says Ibenge.
Victory for EL Merriekh SC Bentiu over two legs will see them qualify to face the winner between AS Port (Djibouti) and KMKM SC (Zanzibar) in the second preliminary round.
EL Merriekh SC Bentiu earned their place in the CAF Confederation Cup after CAF removed Kator FC from the draw and requested South Sudan Football Federation (SSFF) to register another team.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has placed El Merriekh SC Bentiu to face Azam FC in the first preliminary round of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
In the draw conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday, CAF placed El Merriekh SC Bentiu to host the Tanzanian first between Septemeber 19-21, and the return leg will take place September 26-28th.
Victory for El Merriekh SC Bentiu will see them qualify to face the winner between AS Port (Djibouti) and KMKM SC (Zanzibar) in the second preliminary round.
El Merriekh SC Bentiu earned their place in the CAF Confederation Cup after CAF removed Kator FC from the draw and requested South Sudan Football federation (SSFF) to register another team.
58 teams registered to play in the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
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