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The Qatar News Agency reported that Al Hilal Omdurman defeated Burundi’s Aigle Noir 1-0 in the second leg played on September 12 to advance with a comfortable 3-0 aggregate victory. Al Merreikh similarly progressed by beating Zambia’s Power Dynamos 1-0 on the road the same day, completing a 2-0 aggregate win from the two legs. These results send both Sudanese representatives into the next phase of the competition, which sees clubs from across the continent vie for a spot in the lucrative group stage later this year. A Confederation of African Football overview of recent editions shows that Sudanese teams have frequently featured in the latter stages, adding context to the latest successes.
According to data from the Confederation of African Football, Al Hilal has participated in the Champions League more than 20 times and reached the final on multiple occasions although the title has remained elusive. The club secured a 2-0 win in the first leg against Aigle Noir, setting up the straightforward progression after the return fixture. Al Merreikh, one of Sudan’s traditional powerhouses, had taken a 1-0 lead from the opening leg against Power Dynamos played earlier in September, a cushion the team protected in the second meeting.
The preliminary round ties formed part of a broader schedule that included more than a dozen matches across Africa over the weekend, the Confederation of African Football figures show. Power Dynamos failed to find a way past the Sudanese defence in either leg, finishing the tie without scoring. Aigle Noir likewise struggled to mount a comeback after the first-leg deficit, with the September 12 encounter ending in a single goal defeat.
CAF historical records indicate that neither Sudanese club has yet claimed the Champions League title despite their consistent presence, with Al Hilal advancing as far as the 2010 semi-finals in one notable campaign. The latest victories come as the competition continues its qualifying process, which typically whittles down more than 50 entrants to 16 teams for the group phase. Both clubs will now prepare for the subsequent round, where stronger opposition from across the continent awaits.
Sudanese football has maintained a strong continental profile even amid domestic challenges, a trend reflected in the dual advancement on September 12. The Qatar News Agency noted that the results mark a positive step for the pair as they seek to progress deeper into the tournament. Further matches in the preliminary stages will determine additional qualifiers in the coming weeks according to the Confederation of African Football schedule.
Regional benchmarks from past tournaments place Sudanese clubs among the more competitive sides from East and Central Africa, with both Al Hilal and Al Merreikh having lifted other CAF trophies in previous decades. The 2026 edition continues a pattern of early success for the duo, setting the stage for what organisers hope will be an expanded and competitive campaign. Updates on subsequent draws and fixtures will be issued by the Confederation of African Football in due course.
