South African club Stellenbosch reached the CAF Confederation Cup group stage at the first attempt on Sunday despite playing 45 minutes with 10 men in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The club based in a rugby union hotbed 60 kilometres from Cape Town overcame the sending off of Ismael Toure to force a 1-1 draw with V Club in Kinshasa and win 3-1 on aggregate.
A man short, Stellenbosch silenced a crowd that filled most of the 80,000-seat national stadium by taking the lead on 71 minutes through new signing Lehlohonolo Mojela.
That goal left 2018 Confederation Cup runners-up V Club needing to score at least four times to win the second round qualifier.
But all the Congolese could manage was a second-leg equaliser when Comoran Affane Djambae converted a penalty kick deep in added time.
While V Club are less of a force than in previous decades, it was a significant achievement for Stellenbosch to draw in front of some of the most partisan supporters in the continent.
Orapa United upset Zimbabwean opponents Dynamos to become the first Botswana club to reach the group stage in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
A 72nd-minute goal from Namibian Ivan Kamberipa earned Orapa a 1-0 win. With the teams deadlocked at 1-1 on aggregate, the tie was settled by a penalty shootout that United won 3-1.
Nigerian challengers Enyimba also needed penalties to reach the group stage, where each qualifier is guaranteed $400,000 (€360,000) prize money plus a $50,000 participation fee.
After two 0-0 draws with Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso, two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba prevailed 3-2 in a shootout in southeastern city Uyo.
Tanzanian outfit Simba came from behind in Dar es Salaam to beat Libyan visitors Al Ahly Tripoli 3-1 and win by the same score on aggregate.
Angolan Mabululu put Ahly ahead, Denis Kibu levelled and Cameroonian Leonel Ateba scored in added time to give the hosts a 2-1 half-time advantage.
Fadlu Davids, the South African coach of Simba, endured a tense second half before an 85th-minute Edwin Balua goal ensured qualification.
CAF Confederation Cup qualifying results on Sunday:
2nd rd, 2nd legs
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Simba (TAN) 3 (Kibu 37, Ateba 45+1, Balua 85) Al Ahly Tripoli (LBA) 1 (Mabululu 18) (agg: 3-1)
In Francistown, Botswana
Dynamos (ZIM) 0 Orapa Utd (BOT) 1 (Kamberipa 72) (agg: 1-1, Orapa win 3-1 on penalties)
In Kinshasa
V Club (COD) 1 (Djambae 90+6-pen) Stellenbosch 1 (Mojela 71) (agg: 1-3)
In Lubumbashi, DR Congo
Saint-Eloi Lupopo (COD) 1 (Obassi 26) Bravos Maquis (ANG) 2 (Mokonzi 67-og, Fota 88) (agg: 1-3)
In Brazzaville
Otoho (CGO) 2 (Bitheghe 90-pen, Mapata 90+3) Black Bulls (MOZ) 1 (Ifoni 77) (agg: 2-2, Bulls win on away goals)
In Uyo, Nigeria
Enyimba (NGR) 0 Etoile Filante (BUR) 0 (agg: 0-0, Enyimba win 3-2 on penalties)
In Abidjan, Ivory Coast
ASEC Mimosas (CIV) 2 (Coulibaly 45+1, Diarrassouba 47) ASC Kara (TOG) 0 (agg: 3-2)
In Alexandria, Egypt
Al Masry (EGY) 3 (Mohsen 19, 39, Ben Youssef 84) Al Hilal Benghazi (LBA) 2 (El Mohamady 15-og, Onana 90) (agg: 5-5, Masry win 5-3 on penalties)
In Thies, Senegal
Jaraaf (SEN) 3 (Fall 6, Dione 42-pen, Bocande 84-pen) Racing Abidjan (CIV) 0 (agg: 3-0)
In Oran, Algeria
USM Alger (ALG) 2 (Mondeko 75, Guenaoui 90+4) Stade Tunisien (TUN) 0 (agg: 2-1)
Played Saturday
In Polokwane, South Africa
Sekhukhune Utd (RSA) 2 (Makgalwa 25, 69) Lunda Sul (ANG) 1 (Neto 35) (agg: 2-2, Lunda win on away goals)
In Constantine, Algeria
CS Constantine (ALG) 1 (Benchaa 20) Nsoatreman (GHA) 0 (agg: 3-0)
In Sfax, Tunisia
CS Sfaxien (TUN) 1 (Sekkouhi 73) Rukinzo (BDI) 0 (agg: 2-0)
Friday
In Bamako
Stade Malien (MLI) 3 (Cisse 10, Magassouba 18, Drame 24) Paynesville (LBR) 1 (Paye 59) (agg: 3-2)
In Cairo
Zamalek (EGY, holders) 2 (Zizo 56, Maher 60) Police (KEN) 1 (Were 66) (agg: 3-1)
In Berkane, Morocco
Renaissance Berkane (MAR) 5 (Manaout 15, Santos 24, Khairi 41, Dayo 55-pen, Lamlioui 90+5) Dadje (BEN) 0 (agg: 7-0)
Note: Winners qualify for groups draw on Oct 7
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
