Young Africans delivered a statement performance on Saturday, crushing Madagascar's CFFA 4-0 away from home in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 Second Preliminary Round tie. The Tanzanian giants now carry an enormous advantage into the return fixture.

Four scorers, one dominant display

Cheikh Touré broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, and Albert Kangwanda doubled the lead eight minutes later to send Young Africans into the half-time break with a commanding 2-0 cushion.

The visitors showed no intention of easing up after the interval. Mudathir Yahya extended the advantage in the 54th minute, and Maxi Nzengeli put the gloss on the performance five minutes later with a 59th-minute strike to make it four. Four different players on the scoresheet underlined the depth of Yanga's attacking threat.

CFFA now face a near-impossible task in the return leg, needing to overturn a four-goal deficit to sustain any hope of reaching the 16-team group stage. Young Africans, meanwhile, return to Tanzania in full control of their continental destiny.

Mazembe held at home by Club Africain

In Lubumbashi, TP Mazembe were unable to convert their home advantage into a winning lead, settling for a 1-1 draw against Tunisia's Club Africain in their Second Preliminary Round first leg.

Kazema Baso put the five-time African champions ahead at the Kamalondo Stadium, but Alain Kante levelled for the visitors just a minute later, immediately cancelling out the lead.

Mazembe dominated long stretches of the second half and manufactured several clear chances, yet Club Africain's defence held firm throughout. The tie remains wide open ahead of the return leg at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès, scheduled for Sunday, 25 October.

Moremi's late goal sends Pirates through to return leg in control

South Africa's Orlando Pirates claimed a narrow but vital 1-0 victory on Namibian soil against African Stars in their first-leg encounter. Tshepang Moremi scored the game's only goal in the 78th minute, providing Pirates with a slender advantage to defend in the second leg.

African Stars pressed for an equaliser but could not find a way through, leaving the Namibian champions with the unenviable task of overturning the deficit when the tie heads to South Africa. Pirates are now firmly in the driving seat as they bid to reach Africa's premier club competition group stage.