African Leagues Round-Up: Remo Stars go top in Nigeria
African football is alive every weekend with exciting league action around the continent and our weekly round-up of league action highlights a selection of the most important stories.
MOROCCO
With Morocco’s three continental club competition representatives competing in either the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederation Cup this weekend, Renaissance Zemamra used the opportunity to move into second spot in the Botola Pro 1 with a 2-0 home win over Moghreb Tetouan on Sunday. It was not unexpected with Tetouan struggling this season and flirting with the relegation zone.
Zemamra are on 23 points, still four behind leaders RS Berkane who have a game in hand and will play that on Thursday at home to CODM Meknes.
Maghreb Fes are in third courtesy of a 2-0 win at JS Soualem in Berrechid on Sunday with an early goal from Botswana international Kabelo Seakanyeng and then a late addition from centre forward Mohamed El Badaoui.
Chabab Mohammedia, who lost nine of their opening 10 matches at the start of the season, have now drawn two in a row after a 1-1 stalemate at Ittihad Tanger on Sunday. But they are still adrift at the bottom of the table with a paltry three points.
LESOTHO
Lesotho Mounted Police Service lost their 10-match unbeaten start from the start of the Premier League season, and dropped from top of the standings to third, as Bantu handed them an emphatic 4-2 beating at Maseru’s Bambatha Stadium on Sunday.
Hlompho Kalake scored twice as Bantu came back from conceding early.
That allowed Matlama to end the weekend’s round of matches in first place after Freddie Hlalele’s first half header handed them a 1-0 victory over Lioli, who pipped them to the title last season.
Matlama have already lost twice this season but won their other eight matches and now have 24 points, two more than LMPS who have played one match more.
Bantu went second above LMPS on goal difference only while champions Lioli dropped down to fourth as they remained on 20 points.
In the battle of the two bottom placed teams, Mzamane ended their 10-match losing streak, picked up their first points and kept a first clean sheet in a 1-0 win over ACE Maseru, who are still without a victory but do have three points from previous draws.
CAMEROON
The new Elite One season got underway at the weekend, beginning on Sunday with a derby in Melong where Stade Renard, who were third last season, played out a goalless draw with newly promoted visitors Aigle Royal de Moungo. Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o made the symbolic kick off.
A 3-0 win for champions Victoria United at home in Limbe to Yong Sports Academy from Bamenda highlighted a busy Sunday programme of seven matches but the real action came in the Douala derby where Union edged Les Astres 4-3. There were seven different scorers in the game.
For Victoria United, young striker Fredex Songue scored a double to take the early lead in the top goalscorer charts.
NIGERIA
Remo Stars took advantage of a slip by Rivers United to reclaim their position at the top of the NPFL. First half goals from Peter Onuoha and Franck Mawuena handed the Sky Blue Stars a 2-0 home win over El Kanemi Warriors in Ikenne on Sunday.
Stars moved to 29 points and have a one goal better goal difference than Rivers United, who lost away to Enugu Rangers on Saturday.
The 15th minute goal from Collins Ugwueze pushed Rangers into third spot on 27 points, two points behind the leaders, and meant Ikorodu City dropped down to fourth after they had been beaten 1-0 away at Bayelsa United.
Shooting Stars were the only away winners on the weekend and are also in touch with the frontrunners as they sit on 24 points follow the 1-0 win over Sunshine Stars on Saturday.
UGANDA
Vipers are the new leaders in the Premier League as they won 2-1 away at Bright Stars in Wakiso on Saturday, going one point clear of National Enterprise Corporation.
The six-time champions used their first half dominance to go ahead through Gusto Mulongo and Allan Okello, and leave Stars to get a consolation goal from Warren Bule.
On Friday, Fred Amaku and Jude Ssemugabi both scored a double as struggling Kitara handed Mbale Heroes a 6-0 hiding to move out of the relegation places.