Colombe Sportive of Cameroon have been held to a 1–1 draw by MC Algiers of Algeria in the first leg of the second-round qualifiers of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League Yaoundé.
Buoyed by home support and an early burst of energy On Sunday 19 October at the iconic Amadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, Colombe started brightly and looked the more purposeful side in the opening stages. Their dominance paid off in the 14th minute when Inno Loemba pounced to fire the hosts ahead, sending fans into jubilation.
The Cameroonian side continued to dictate the pace of the match, pressing high and creating several chances but were unable to extend their lead. MC Algiers, however, remained patient and organised, absorbing pressure while waiting for the right moment to strike.
Their persistence was rewarded late in the game. In the 86th minute, Ayoub Ghezala capitalised on a rare defensive lapse to slot home the equaliser, snatching a valuable away goal for the Algerian visitors.
Despite Colombe’s dominance for most of the encounter, the late setback left the home side disappointed as the final whistle confirmed a 1–1 stalemate.
With the second leg set for Algiers, MC Algiers will feel confident returning home with the advantage of an away goal, while Colombe must regroup quickly and show greater efficiency in front of goal if they are to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
By Joseph Carlos in Yaoundé for Hilltopvoices
