Al Hilal were crowned Sudanese champions for a record 31st time after thrashing Al Merrikh 4-0 in a decisive Elite League clash.
The win came in Sudan’s northeast, where army-controlled venues hosted the competition amid an ongoing civil war that erupted in 2023. Hilal and Merrikh had earlier competed in Mauritania’s league to escape the conflict, finishing first and sixth respectively.
CAF rules, however, require national champions to be domestically based, forcing the Sudanese giants to return for a truncated mini-league.
Hilal edged Al Ahly Madani on goal difference, both teams finishing with 14 points, but only Hilal will represent Sudan in the CAF Champions League.
Meanwhile, South African forward Lucas Ribeiro earned global recognition after his solo strike for Mamelodi Sundowns won FIFA’s Goal of the Tournament. Ribeiro dazzled with a midfield run and composed finish against Borussia Dortmund, though Sundowns lost the Club World Cup tie 4-3.
In Tanzania, Simba SC confirmed the departure of veteran captain Mohammed Husseini after 12 years, ending a dominant era in Dar es Salaam football. Husseini joined Simba in 2014 and remained a defensive pillar under multiple coaches, but his exit follows a season of near misses for the club.
Ghana’s Asante Kotoko have appointed Abdul-Karim Zito as full-time head coach following their FA Cup triumph and third-place league finish. Zito, who led Dreams FC to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals in 2024, now aims to restore Kotoko’s former continental glory.
In Uganda, Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert has switched national champions, leaving Liberia’s Fassell for Vipers SC near Kampala. Fassell sealed their first Liberian title by 11 points, while Vipers clinched the Ugandan league with a narrow two-point margin.
