CAF Confederation Cup
Suspension, Injury knock out Four Zesco Stars
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Troubled Enugu Rangers may get a breather when they face Zambia’s Zesco United in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup play off on Sunday.
At least four regular players of Zesco United will miss the match slated for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
According to Zambia’s Daily Mail, striker Idris Mbombo is ruled out on account of accumulating two yellow cards in the competition.
Three other players are ruled out owing to injuries. They are striker Jackson Mwanza and midfielders: Misheck Chaila and Simon Silwimba.
The suspended Mbombo scored five of the goals in last year’s CAF Champions League in which Zesco got to the semi final stage.
He will however be available in the return leg in Ndola.
Zambia Daily Mail quoting the Serbian coach of the club, Zlatko Krmpotic, to be lamenting the absence of the four players who ordinarily, would have been in the starting line-up.
“But this is football and we need to prepare other players to play in Nigeria. It is a very important game for us in Nigeria,” Krmpotic said.
He said Zesco will not look down on Enugu Rangers. “This is a footballing country (Nigeria); Enugu is a good team, champions of Nigeria. We must go there with respect but I think Zesco have a chance to go into the group phase. Every game we go to win but this is football,” Krmpotic said.
Mwanza was injured during last Thursday’s Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semi-final 4-2 win over Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
Defensive midfielder Misheck Chaila sustained an injury on national team duty while Silwimba limped off in the Confederation Cup first round first leg against Burundian side Le Messager Ngozi.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has appointed Senegalese referee Issa Sy to officiate the Enugu versus Zesco match.
CAF Confederation Cup
‘Nzogbu Nzogbu’ Enyimba enyi as Enyimba limp into Confederation Cup Group stage!

It was not easy, but the end justified the means. Enyimba had to go through the lottery of penalty shoot-out to get into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday in Uyo after playing a barren draw with visiting Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso.
The first leg also ended goalless leading to penalty shoot-out as tie breaker. Enyimba won 3-2 on penalties.
CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba target victory after Solid Showing in Bamako

Enyimba FC head coach Yemi Olarenwaju has set his sights on securing a crucial victory in Sunday’s second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup tie against Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou.
His confidence is built on the goalless draw in the first leg in Bamako.
“The job is far from over, and we can’t afford to celebrate yet. The return leg in Uyo will be crucial,” Olarenwaju was quoted by the club’s website as saying.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board, work harder, and prepare for the challenge ahead.”
Olarenwaju praised his team’s tactical edge and discipline, which nullified the hosts’ attacking threats. “We had a clear game plan, and the players executed it perfectly. Our tactical discipline prevented Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou from creating any meaningful scoring opportunities.”
The Enyimba FC boss acknowledged the tough opposition but remains confident in his team’s ability to secure a win at home.
“Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou is a formidable opponent, but we have the quality and determination to get the job done in Uyo.”
As we look forward to the return leg, we urge all Enyimba FC fans to come out in their numbers and support the team at the Uyo Stadium. Let’s make our home advantage count and cheer the People’s Elephant to victory!
CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba’s midfielder, Daga confident of Confederation Cup group stage ticket

Enyimba’s midfielder, Daniel Daga, has pledged to lead club to victory against Etoile Filante in the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round on Sunday.
The People’s Elephant are looking to build on their impressive performance in the first leg, which ended in a goalless draw in Bamako, Mali. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, Enyimba were unable to find the back of the net.
However, Daga remains optimistic about their chances in the return leg having missed the first leg of the encounter due to a slight knock
“Our resolve is to win and advance to the group stages,” he stated confidently. “We understand that they are a difficult opponent, but we have just one task, which is to win, and that is exactly what we are going to do.”
A win for Enyimba FC would guarantee their spot in the group stages, a feat that would make them the only Nigerian team in the competition’s group phase.
“We know the importance of this match, and we’re ready to give it our all,” Daga added. “We want to make Nigeria proud and show that we’re a force to be reckoned with in African football.”
Head coach, Yemi Olarenwaju, has been fine-tuning his tactics, and the team is eager to execute their game plan.
“The first leg result gives us an advantage, but we won’t take anything for granted,” Olarenwaju said. “We’ll push for victory and secure our spot in the group stages.”
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