Tanzania and Burundi this past weekend became the first countries in Africa to kick off their top-flight leagues for the 2020/2021 campaign.
Both countries were also the first two to conclude their 2019/2020 seasons despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Burundi only took a break during the elections period, Tanzania resumed its season after it was suspended as a precautionary measure due to the pandemic.
In Tanzania, defending champions Simba opened their campaign with a narrow 2-1 win against newly-promoted Iheafu. John Bocco and Mzamiru Yassin netted for Simba while Omary Mponda scored for Iheafu.
Yanga, who sacked their coach Luc Eymael in July following alleged racist remarks, began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Tanzania Prisons.
Last season’s beaten FA Cup finalists Namungo, Azam F.C., JKT Tanzania and Biashara Mara United all secured respective 1-0 wins against Coastal Union, Polisi Tanzania, Kagera Sugar and Gwambina. Dodoma Jiji also defeated Mwadui by a similar scoreline while Ruvu Shooting and Mtibwa sugar played out a goalless draw.
However, the season’s early leaders are Kinondoni Municipal Council who hammered Mbeya City 4-0 on Monday with four different players getting their names on the score sheet.
In Burundi, last season’s champions Le Messager Ngozi suffered a shock 3-0 loss to Flambeau du Centre to leave them bottom of the table after the first match.
Musongati, last season’s runners-up and winners of the Burundian President’s Cup, edged Inter Star 1-0.
Les Elephants, BS Dynamik, Rukinzo and Bujumbura City registered 2-0 wins against Kayanza United, Atletico Academy, Vital’O and Bumamuru F.C. respectively.
Elsewhere, Aigle Noir beat Olympic Star 2-1 and Muzinga and Royal FC settled for a barren draw.
