Crowned champions for the 42nd time with seven matches to spare, Egyptian giants Al Ahly finished the 2019-20 Egyptian Premier League season in style in a day that saw them handed the trophy in a simple ceremony.
In Ghana, legendary Asamoah Gyan returned home after 17 years of playing abroad to join Legon Cities.
CAFOnline.com rounds up the African Leagues’ weekend;
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Egypt
Pitso Mosimane continued his unbeaten start to a new career in North Africa as Al Ahly wound up their successful Egyptian Premier League campaign with emphatic form, thrashing Talaea El Geish 3-0 to finish the season with 89 points.
Walid Soliman scored the first goal within the opening minute before Geraldo and Mahmoud Kahraba scored in the 18th and 36th minutes to seal the victory.
Ahly who are preparing for the Total CAF Champions League final have had a brilliant campaign this season, winning 28 of their 34 matches, drawing five and losing only one. They have also just conceded eight goals in this league. Their 89 points tally sets a new record for the highest points collected in a single Premier League season in Egypt.
Tanta, FC Masr and Haras El Hodood were relegated to First Division, while 1972-73 champions Ghazl El Mahalla were promoted to the 2020-21 Premier League season, alongside debutants Bank Al Ahly and Ceramica Cleopatra.
South Africa
The weekend’s biggest game saw the Soweto Derby pitting giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as they clashed in the MTN 8 semi-final first leg.
Pirates reigned supreme, thrashing Chiefs 3-0 to earn a massive advantage ahead of the return tie.
Zakhele Lepasa broke the deadlock for the Buccaneers before Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch added two more as they beat Amakhosi for the first time since 2018.
In the other semi-final, SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a 1-1 draw. Ndumiso Mabena opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but Gamphani Jones Lungu drew SuperSport level five minutes after the break.
Zambia
The Zambian Premier League’s new season kicked off this weekend.
Defending champions Nkana were handed a rude start to the new campaign after a 2-0 loss at the hands of Forest Rangers at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Adam Zikuri opened the scoring for Rangers in the fourth minute before Webster Muzaza made it 2-0 off a counterattack.
Napsa Stars left it late before clawing a point in a 1-1 draw against ZESCO United, with Burundian international Laudit Mavugo snatching the equalizer at the death. The visitors broke the deadlock through Clement Mwape.
In other results, Zanaco beat Indeni 2-0, Power Dynamos defeated Young Green Eagles 1-0 while Prison Leopards thrashed Kitwe United 3-0.
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Tanzania
Defending champions Simba SC bounced back from two losses in a row with a 5-0 thrashing of Mwadui. Hassan Dilunga was the star of the show with a goal and two assists.
Skipper John Bocco scored a brace. He picked off the scoring in the 25th minute before doubling the tally in the 64th. Wekundu wa Msimbazi added three more late goals, Ibrahim Ajibu making it 3-0 in the 81st minute before Dilunga added another in the 87th. Said Ndemla sealed the five-star victory with a goal in the third minute of added time.
Meanwhile, leaders Azam dropped points for the second successive game after being held to a 1-1 draw by JKT Tanzania, while Young Africans won their fifth game in succession after beating Biashara United 1-0.
Azam remain pegged at the top of the standings with 22 points, one ahead of Yanga while Simba moved into third on 16 points, topping Biashara who on goal difference.
DR Congo
AS Maniema Union continued with their strong start to the season, retaining the top spot in the Linafoot Ligue One with a 2-0 victory over Simba. Maniema bounced back from their 3-1 loss to TP Mazembe to stretch to 15 points on top of the standings.
Pepito Bahoso gave Maniema the lead four minutes to the break before Mercey Ngimbi made it 2-0 in the second half.
AS Vita meanwhile zoomed to second in the standings with a 3-1 victory away to Lubumbashi Sport. Fiston Kalala scored Vita’s first before Zemanga Soze and Sidi Yacoub scored in quick succession in the 53rd and 56th minutes. Lubumbashi drew one back at the stroke of full time through Luna.
Kenya
Kisumu All Stars put one foot into remaining in the Kenyan Premier League after beating Vihiga United 2-1 in the relegation and promotion play-off. All Stars finished 16th in the just concluded season and had to face off with Vihiga who were third in the second tier National Super League.
Substitute Chadrack Oteino scored the winner in the 76th minute to hand All Stars victory. Vihiga had drawn level through Dennis Wafula after Willis Otienda had given All Stars the lead in the fifth minute.
The return tie is scheduled for Wednesday with Kisumu looking to avoid defeat and remain in the Premier League while Vihiga need to win by a margin of more than two goals to earn promotion.
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Ghana
Black Stars record goal scorer and ex Ghana skipper Asamoah Gyan returned home to join Legon Cities (formerly known as Wa All Stars). Gyan left in 2003 to join Italy’s Udinese, and had a brilliant 17 year career abroad that saw him having spells in Italy, France, England, UAE, China, Turkey and India, before deciding to go back home.
Gyan (34) who scored 51 goals in 109 caps with the Black Stars tweeted “I’m happy to join this club because they have a future plan for Ghana football. Don’t blink when the season starts.”
Gyan makes his comeback to Ghana’s top-flight 17 years after leaving Liberty Professionals, with whom he started his career at the age of 17.
Ghana Premier league will start on 14 November, with Legon Cities facing Brekum Chelsea.
Source: cafonline.com