AS Réal de Bamako reach Confederation Cup second round

AS Réal de Bamako have secured a place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup, keeping their continental campaign alive after eliminating Burkina Faso’s Vitesse FC. The Malian club advanced by defending the narrow advantage earned in the opening leg and will now await its next opponent.

The Scorpions drew 0-0 with Vitesse at the Mamadou Konaté Stadium on Friday, progressing 2-1 on aggregate after their victory in Burkina Faso. The return produced few opportunities, and the teams went into half-time level before a goalless second period preserved Réal’s lead. Djiboutian official Saddam Houssein Mansour refereed the match.

Réal showed more attacking ambition after the break but could not turn that improvement into a goal. Baye Bah, the team’s coach, said the side had started badly, then found its game in the second half, while inaccurate finishing remained a major weakness. He said the squad would work on that area ahead of the next round.

The next tie will be against either Tunisia’s ES Zarzis or Senegal’s Diambars FC. Zarzis won the first meeting 3-1, with the return set for Saturday in Dakar.