Asante Kotoko are champions again in Ghana, extending their record number of title triumphs and booking a CAF Champions League place for next year. In Algeria and South Africa, things are heading toward a dramatic finish, while champions Recreativo Libolo are threatening to open up space at the top of the Angolan GiraBola.

Ghana Premier League: Champions crowned
Asante Kotoko clinched their record 22nd league title with four matches left in the season, although the occasion did not come in spectacular fashion as the Kumasi-based club were held to a goalless draw at home. However, both their closest rivals lost to leave the Porcupines Warriors 15 points clear of AshantiGold and Hearts of Oak.

Nigerian Victor Moses scored twice within three minutes as Wigan Athletic eased their relegation fears by trouncing Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United 4-0 at the weekend.

Moses outjumped taller Mike Williamson for the opening goal of the English Premier League clash in the north-west town and punished a defensive blunder to add a second via a sidefoot shot.

Another Nigerian on target in the major European leagues was Joel Obi, who equalised for former European champions Inter Milan in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Cesena.

ENGLAND

Tanzania's Simba have taken a big step towards a place in the next round of Africa's Confederation Cup with a 3-0 home win over Al Ahly Shandy of Sudan.

Last week Simba had to delay celebrating winning the Tanzanian title because of controversy at another game, but there was no doubt about this win.

All three goals game in the second half, with man of the match Emmanuel Okwi inspiring the team.

The goals came from Haruna Moshi, Patrick Mafisango and Okwi himself.

Mafisango had missed a penalty in the first half and it was 0-0 at the break - and the Simba coach Milovan Circovic admitted that his team were fortunate to record such an emphatic win.

Title holders Esperance took a huge step towards a place in the group phase of this year's African Champions League with a 6-0 thrashing of Dynamos of Zimbabwe on Saturday.

Tunisian sides did well over the weekend, with Etoile du Sahel also earning a big win - a 4-1 victory over Amadou Diallo of Ivory Coast.

There was a good away win for Zamalek of Egypt over MAS of Morocco, while Mali's Djoliba and Nigeria's Sunshine Stars drew 1-1 and DR Congo's TP Mazembe beat Sudan's Al Merreikh 2-0.

Esperance's win came thanks to an opener from Walid Hichri in just the 7th minute, with Karim Aouadhi doubling the lead before 15 minutes had been played.

Angolan club side Interclube took a major step towards the next round of competition in the Orange CAF Confederation Cup with a first leg 4-1 win over visiting Sudanese side, Al Amal.

Two goals from striker, Moco in 31st and 53th minute helped put Interclube in the driving seat before the return leg in a fortnight’s time in Sudan.

The Angolans got out of the blocks rather slowly on home turf but grew into the game with time.

As they settled down it looked a matter of time before they would open the scoring and Moco breached the Al Amal defense with a header but the goal only served to awaken the Sudanese.

Heartland are confident of advancing in the CAF Confederation Cup despite a slim 3-2 home win over AC Leopard of Congo Sunday.

The Congolese team's two goals away from home could well prove crucial in the return leg in a fortnight as a goal could see them go past the Nigerians.

However, Heartland Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif remained upbeat his team are in a good position to go past their opponents and advance to third and final qualifying round of the competition.

"The return leg will be tough but I believe we will get the result we need in Congo to go forward," said de Kruif.

Three magnificent goals in the last 24 minutes completely overwhelmed visiting Al Ahly Shandy at a packed National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday as Simba edge closer to the last eight berth of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The victory has left Simba to have a relatively soft workload as they travel to Shandy in a fortnight for the return leg tie of the last 16.

The goals were reminiscent to the pattern when Simba played their last Confederation Cup match at home to Algeria’s Setif at the same venue early this month.

Both Shandy and Simba players launched several attacks but the later had a lion share in the final ten minutes of the first half.

A sublime second half performance and two goals from Augustine Amutu and another from Gift Atiluwa gave Warri Wolves a 3-1 win over Black Leopards of South Africa in the round of 16 of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup match played at the Warri City Stadium.
 
It was the first away loss for the South Africans who however maintained a record of scoring in every away game in this year’s competition. Leopards opened scoring in the 18th minute through Raymond Shere Monama after meeting a cross by Joshua Obaje.

Before then, Wolves celebrated striker, Jude Aneke was substituted due to a   thigh injury to be replaced by former Nigeria junior international, Gift Atiluwa.

TP Mazembe of DR Congo beat Sudan’s Al Merreikh 2-0 for a vital home win in a Champions League second round clash.

Four-time African champions Mazembe took a 1-0 lead into the break of this match played at the Stade Kibasa Maliba in Lubumbashi through Tanzania international striker Mbwana Sammata, who headed home in the 22nd minute from a Rainford Kalaba corner.

The two sides were even for the last 23 minute of the first half.

Al Merreikh had a glorious chance to level scores in the 52nd minute through Mustpaha Abdhala but his shot went inches wide after benefiting from a short pass from Zambia international Jonas Sakuwaha.

Cameroonian champions, Coton Sport forced their Ghanaian counterparts Berekum Chelsea to a barren draw in their Orange CAF Champions League 1/8th round first leg clash on Sunday at the Golden City Park.

It was the first time the Ghana champions had failed to hit the back of the net in the preliminary continental club championship with goalkeeper Fiedjou Loic standing between the hosts and goal throughout the game with some decisive shaves.

Berekum Chelsea were surprised by the output of their guests who matched them squarely in every department of the game.

After a barren first half, the hosts maintained their hold of possession pinning their opponents to their half in search of the opener. On 64 minutes, leading marksman Emmanuel Clottey shot wide with oly Fiedjou to beat.