Cape Town City advanced to the next round of CAF Champions League qualification after a goalless draw against AS Otoho, winning the tie 2-0 on aggregate.
The Citizens faced a challenging 90 minutes in the Republic of Congo. City coach Eric Tinkler opted for a defensive strategy, employing a 5-4-1 formation to preserve their advantage from the first leg.
Despite their typically attacking duo of Khanyisa Mayo and Darwin Gonzalez starting on the bench, City had a shaky start. Goalkeeper Darren Keet made an excellent save in the 26th minute to deny a clear opportunity for the home side.
City, committed to their defensive approach, still launched occasional attacks. Midfielder Thabo Nodada came close to scoring just before halftime but hit the crossbar.
Keet received a yellow card when he lost his temper while trying to retrieve his water bottle, which had been taken by the opposing team from the goalposts.
The controversy continued as the home side were awarded a questionable penalty in stoppage time. However, they missed the opportunity, securing City’s qualification for the next round.
In the CAF Confederations Cup, Royal AM FC, the sole South African representative in the tournament, took a significant stride towards continental glory with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Mbabane Highlanders of Eswatini at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Thwihli Thwahla progressed to the next round thanks to goals from Elias Pelembe and Ruzaigh Gamildien in each half of the match.
As they embark on their debut season in the continental stage, the KwaZulu-Natal-based club aims to gain valuable experience. Their upcoming opponents, Zesco United, present a formidable challenge in the competition.