Brazzaville braces for CAF weekend
The first whistle of the new CAF interclub season already echoes in Brazzaville. AC Léopards host Mozambique’s Black Bulls on Saturday while AS Otohô travel to Luanda to test Primeiro de Agosto, giving Congolese fans a double dose of continental drama.
Both ties are first-leg fixtures in the preliminary round, yet the stakes already feel final: survive now, and the lucrative group stage comes into view; stumble, and another season ends before it truly starts.
AC Léopards sharpen claws in Ignié
Coach Cédric Nanitelamio gathered his squad 45 kilometres north of the capital, at the quiet national technical centre in Ignié. Far from Dolisie’s bustle, players focus on fitness drills, video sessions and short tactical games under a relentless midday sun.
Training reports show flashes of fluid passing but also lapses in concentration. ‘We create a lot, but finishing and collective pressing must improve,’ the coach warned on the club’s official page, echoing supporters’ concerns after a slow domestic offseason.
Friendly results remain mixed. The Niari side edged CARA 2-1 and swept AS Elbo 5-2 before crashing 0-1 to Interclub. Those scorelines mirror a team still searching for balance between bold attack and disciplined cover in front of goalkeeper Barel Mouko.
Black Bulls: familiar Mozambican hurdle
Maputo’s Black Bulls need little introduction in Congo. Last year they dumped AS Otohô out of the Confederation Cup, winning 1-0 in Maputo before losing 1-2 in Brazzaville yet advancing on away goals. The memory lingers in local dressing rooms.
Analysts highlight their pace in wide areas and a compact mid-block that frustrates visitors. Léopards’ mission is therefore clear: strike early, keep errors low, and avoid conceding an away goal that could weigh heavily in next week’s return leg at Zimpeto.
Otohô targets another Angolan scalp
Six hundred kilometres south, Primeiro de Agosto remember the sting of 2019. Beaten 2-0 in Owando after a 4-2 home win, the Angolans crashed out on the away-goals rule to a fearless Otohô side built on tempo and set-piece mastery.
Many protagonists have moved on, yet institutional memory fuels rivalry. ‘They respect us now,’ smiles Otohô secretary-general Kevin Ikouma, though he concedes three months of preparation may still be short for such a decisive duel.
Otohô tested itself across the border against Gabon’s Manga Sport twice, winning 3-2 then drawing 1-1, before a scoreless rehearsal with DR Congo’s Aigles du Congo. Coaches noted solid shape but rued the departure of striker Elie Andzouono, now in Tunisia.
Three months on the training ground
Both Congolese representatives share one headache: the domestic league is still dormant. Without competitive minutes, rhythm comes only from friendlies, making muscle management tricky and tactical automatisms slower to click under pressure.
Sports physician Dr. Bernice Okiemy warns that spikes in intensity between training and continental duty raise injury risks. ‘Players jump from 60 to 100 percent workload in days. Recovery protocols, ice baths and sleep monitoring become as important as tactics,’ she says.
Key men who could tip the scales
Léopards place creative hopes on left-footed winger Kader Bidimbou, whose acceleration unsettled defenders in preseason. Behind him, veteran captain Rudy Guelord Ndong keeps the midfield ticking with crisp one-touch passes and a calming voice that younger teammates instantly heed.
Otohô look toward versatile midfielder Prince Oniangué to supply goals from deep, while young keeper Christ Wamba, impressive against Manga Sport, shoulders responsibility for command inside the box. His reflex saves may be decisive against Agosto’s powerful aerial threat.
What supporters need to know
Kick-off at Alphonse-Massamba-Débat is scheduled for 16:00, with gates opening two hours earlier. Tickets range from 1 500 to 5 000 FCFA, and organisers remind fans that only digital payments or exact cash will be accepted to speed entrance.
National television will broadcast both matches live, and MTN users can stream on their phones for free via the federation’s new app. Weather forecasts predict 29 °C with a slight southern breeze, ideal conditions after a week of heavy showers.
Fans travelling to the airport road for Otohô’s eventual home leg in Owando should note that renovation work on National 2 may add forty minutes to the journey. Transport cooperatives plan extra buses if the team secures a positive result in Luanda.
A weekend that could set the tone
Progression would extend Congo’s recent renaissance on the continental stage and inject fresh optimism into a domestic league eager to restart. The reverse, as players admit, would leave empty weekends and restless supporters craving competition.
For now, anticipation outweighs anxiety. Two whistles, two cities, and ninety minutes each will tell whether Léopards and Otohô roar loudly enough to carry the Congolese flag deeper into African football’s most prestigious nights.
Next dates on the calendar
Should both Congolese sides advance, the next round begins 15 October. CAF has confirmed that VAR will be introduced from that stage, meaning stadiums must pass additional technical checks. Federation officials say upgrade teams stand ready, pending funding confirmation from continental partners.
