Goalkeeper Ben Said stars as Esperance win Champions League shootout

Goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said starred as Tunisian club Esperance avoided becoming another high-profile casualty in CAF Champions League qualifying by beating Libyan outfit Asswehly in a penalty shootout on Saturday.

Four-time African champions Esperance edged African debutants Asswehly 1-0 in the second leg of a final round qualifier in Rades near Tunis, leaving the teams level at 1-1 on aggregate.

Tunisian international Ben Said then saved penalties from Ayoub Ayed and Lameck Banda in the shootout, which the hosts won 3-1 to book a group stage place.

Esperance had cancelled the slender lead Asswehly took into the return match after just eight minutes when France-born Imad Raraj netted.

On Friday, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa made a shock exit. They fell to Angolan club Wiliete on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate tie.

Other former champions Zamalek and Pyramids advanced to the 16-club mini-league phase after contrasting victories in Cairo.

A first-minute goal from Ahmed Sherif was all five-time champions Zamalek had to show for their superiority over Rwandan army outfit APR. They also won 1-0 away and advanced 2-0 overall.

Pyramids, who beat Sundowns in the 2025 final, hammered El Merriekh Bentiu from South Sudan 4-0 with Abdelrahman Magdy scoring twice within five minutes during the opening half.

Pyramids FC mean business. Four goals and a place in the group stage secured. 💙 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL https://t.co/i2nHgTUocO — TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) October 24, 2026

The Egyptians progressed 5-0 on aggregate as they continued a perfect start to the season. Pyramids have won four Champions League qualifiers and seven Egypt Premier League matches.

Pyramids are coached by 39-year-old South African Rulani Mokwena. After a stint with Sundowns, he led Wydad Casablanca, Mouloudia Alger and Libyan club Al Ittihad before moving to Cairo.

In another penalty shootout, Horoya of Guinea beat Al Merrikh of Sudan 5-3 after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

The Conakry club last qualified for the group stage in 2023.