Saturday, 12 September brought a wave of decisive results in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League first preliminary round, as clubs across the continent played their return legs and fought for a place in the second preliminary round.

Convincing winners lead the charge

Zamalek delivered the evening's most dominant display, thrashing Ports 4-0 to seal a 6-1 aggregate victory — one of the widest margins of the round. Algeria's MC Alger matched that firepower with a 5-0 demolition of Nigelee, advancing 5-0 on aggregate.

TP Mazembe were equally commanding, defeating Medeama 3-1 to progress 4-1 overall, while El Merriekh FC Bentiu rounded off a 4-0 aggregate rout of Heegan FC with a 3-0 home win. Al Hilal Omdurman also advanced comfortably, a 1-0 home win sealing a 3-0 aggregate passage over Aigle Noir.

Orlando Pirates and Young Africans progress

Orlando Pirates confirmed their place in the next round with a 3-1 win over La Cure Waves in Soweto, completing a 3-1 aggregate success. Young Africans, operating under new coach Manqoba Mngqithi, edged Gaborone United 2-1 to advance 3-2 on aggregate and continue their continental push.

In Zambia, Al-Merreikh held their nerve to beat Power Dynamos 1-0 and seal a 2-0 aggregate win, while MAS Fes coasted through on the back of their first-leg work, holding Rahimo FC to a 0-0 draw in Morocco to confirm a 4-1 aggregate triumph.

Tight finishes and close calls

Not every tie was straightforward. Petro Atletico were held to a 2-2 draw by HCB Senge but had done enough in the first leg to advance 3-2 overall. Club Africain also scraped through after a 2-2 draw with Djoliba AC, winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Scottland FC required no goals on the night — a 0-0 return-leg draw against Nsingizini was sufficient to progress 1-0 on aggregate — while CFFA drew 1-1 with Lijabatho FC and advanced 3-1 overall.

Sunday's action still to come

With Saturday's fixtures now settled, the remaining first preliminary round ties are due to be decided on Sunday, completing the full picture ahead of the second preliminary round.

Saturday's results at a glance

Al Hilal Omdurman 1-0 Aigle Noir — Al Hilal advance 3-0 on aggregate
African Stars 2-0 Manga Sport — African Stars advance 3-3 on aggregate
Heegan FC 0-3 El Merriekh FC Bentiu — El Merriekh FC advance 4-0 on aggregate
Nsingizini 0-0 Scottland FC — Scottland advance 1-0 on aggregate
Orlando Pirates 3-1 La Cure Waves — Orlando Pirates advance 3-1 on aggregate
Power Dynamos 0-1 Al-Merreikh — Al-Merreikh advance 2-0 on aggregate
TP Mazembe 3-1 Medeama — TP Mazembe advance 4-1 on aggregate
Lijabatho FC 1-1 CFFA — CFFA advance 3-1 on aggregate
Petro Atletico 2-2 HCB Senge — Petro Atletico advance 3-2 on aggregate
Rahimo FC 0-0 MAS Fes — MAS Fes advance 4-1 on aggregate
Djoliba AC 2-2 Club Africain — Club Africain advance 3-2 on aggregate
Young Africans 2-1 Gaborone United — Young Africans advance 3-2 on aggregate
Zamalek 4-0 Ports — Zamalek advance 6-1 on aggregate
MC Alger 5-0 Nigelee — MC Alger advance 5-0 on aggregate