Senegal's Jaraaf dazzle as TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup serves up surprises

Senegal's Jaraaf Dakar emphatically secured their passage to the second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup with a 3-0 victory over Sierra Leone's East End Lions on Sunday.

The "Green and Whites" left no room for doubt, with Souleymane Cissé netting a hat-trick, including a goal just 46 seconds into the match as the first preliminary round reached its thrilling conclusion with the second-leg matches.

Ababacar Sarr's mesmerizing performance in midfield set the stage for Jaraaf's dominant 4-0 aggregate win, earning them a clash with Cote d'Ivoire's Racing Club d'Abidjan in the next round.

Meanwhile, Togo's ASCK overcame a challenging first-leg draw to triumph 2-0 against Niger's AS FAN.

The "Kozah Drivers" found their rhythm in the second half, with Akoro Bilali and Moussa Marone securing the goals that propelled them into a tantalizing matchup with Ivorians ASEC Mimosas.

Angola's Bravos do Maquis held firm in Tanzania, securing a goalless draw against Coastal Union.

This resilient performance, following their 3-0 home victory, sets up an intriguing second-round encounter with DR Congo's FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo.

The day was not without its upsets, as Cameroon's Fovu Club fell to Liberia's Paynesville FC, highlighting the unpredictable nature of continental competition.

However, CS Constantine of Algeria lived up to expectations, completing a professional job against Rwanda's Police FC with a 2-1 away win, sealing a 4-1 aggregate victory.

As the dust settles on this round of fixtures, attention now turns to the second preliminary round, scheduled for mid-September.