Samartex pip Victoria Utd. to secure progression in CAF Champs League

 Isaac Afful scored to seal a 1-0 victory for Samartex FC over Victoria United of Cameroonin their CAF Champions League preliminary round second-leg tie at the Accra Sports Stadium, yesterday.

The seventh-minute shot from Afful gave the Timber Giants a 2-0 aggregate victory over the Cameroonian champions.

Emmanuel Mamah won the first leg for the Ghanaians at the Douala’s Japoma Stadium last week with a header and looked favourites for the yesterday’s encounter.

Indeed, they started well and stunned the visitors with an early they defended gallantly to ensure progression to the next stage.

By the victory, Samartex are set to face the might of Moroccan side, Raja Casablanca, next month.

In a related development, Tan­zania’s Young Africans (Yanga) defeated Burundi’s Vital’O 6-0 in the second leg of their CAF Champions League first round qualifier on Saturday.

The resounding victory in Dar es Salaam completed a 10-0 aggregate win, marking the largest margin of victory in the ties.

Zambian midfielder, Clatous Chama, emerged as the architect of Vital’O’s downfall, scoring once and providing four assists in a virtuoso performance.

The rout began early when Ivo­rian PacomeZouzoua converted a 14th-minute penalty after Vital’O had been reduced to 10 men.

Goals from Clement Mzize, Chama, and Zimbabwean Prince Dube followed, before Vital’O lost another player to a red card.

The Ethiopian side advanced despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Uganda’s Villa, progress­ing 3-2 on aggregate.

Elsewhere, former African champions, Raja Casablanca, of Morocco flexed their muscles with a 5-0 thrashing of AS Garde Nationale from Niger.

In a dramatic encounter, Staded’Abidjan of Cote d’Ivoire eliminated Senegal’s Teungueth FC on penalties after both legs ended 1-1.

 BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY