CAF Confederation Cup
We’ll Compound Rangers’ Woes, Says Zesco Coach
While Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers appear to still be in disarray following an unimpressive 2-2 draw at home in their first leg CAF Confederation Cup play-off with Zambia’s Zesco United, the Zambians are already set to excel.
Rangers still have the dust over their technical crew to settle. But according to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zesco United, “straight from landing, went for training at the trade fair grounds in Ndola.”
The report has it that Enugu Rangers were expected to arrive on Friday afternoon for the Saturday match.
Zesco United’s Serbian coach, Zlatko Krmpotic remarked that the team was preparing adequately to ensure that they qualify to the group stage of the CAF confederations cup.
Krmpotic added that he will not pay any attention to what was happening in Enugu camp following the firing of their coach after the 2- 2.
This is a good result for us but it is only the first leg,” Krmpotic said. “What is important for me is only how my team plays and not about Enugu Rangers.
“We still have 90 minutes to play and it will be different at home and I think we have the ability to win the final leg and qualify to the group stage.”
He however complemented Enugu Rangers as a good side.
Sports Village Square gathered that the coach believed Zesco United’s 2017 CAF Confederation Cup Group stage dream was within touching distance.
Zesco stunned hosts Enugu Rangers of Nigeria on Sunday, to deny them a win with two late second half goals, when the Zambian club rallied from two-down to finish 2-2 in a Confederation Cup, pre-group stage, first leg match.
A scoreless draw at home on Saturday, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, will see Zesco qualify to the group stage in May on away goals rule.
Algeria’s USM Alger continues to battle in what looked an hopeless situation in a bid to upturn a decision of the Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System which awarded the first leg match of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final duel to the visiting RS Berkane of Morocco.
The continental body on Friday confirmed the verdict of the Organising Committee and thus threw away the appeal by Algeria.
The Appeal Committee of CAF rejected the Algerian club’s requests.
The USM Algiers club delegation has arrived Morocco through the the Oujda-Angad airport. They were warmly welcome by Moroccan officials led by Belaqchour, the President of the professional national league.
The team arrived at around 5 p.m., aboard a special plane from Algiers. Also on hand to receive them were officials of Berkane officials.
It took the Algerians just 15 minutes from landing to leaving the airport. They were greeted by a large number of fans.
The Algerians have an Herculean task of overturning a 3-0 deficit awarded to RS Berkane in the botched first leg match. The return leg match will hold on Sunday at the Berkane municipal stadium at 8 p.m.
The decision to play the second leg in Berkane comes as USM Alger seeks to avoid additional sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which could include a ban from participating in African competitions for up to four years.
Ghana’s Dreams FC coach, Karim Zito, announced on Friday that he is diligently preparing his players for a potential penalty shootout against Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, scheduled for Sunday.
The first leg match concluded with a goalless draw between the two teams in Cairo last week, and the upcoming second leg will take place in Kumasi, ultimately determining the team that will qualify for the final.
“We ended with penalty shootouts, and out of the twenty-four (24) players, only three (3) of them could not score, so we are ready if it comes down to penalties,” Zito stated during an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM.
He further added, “Let me say that we are hoping to secure qualification in regulation time on Sunday.”
During the first leg game in Cairo, Zamalek missed several clear goal-scoring opportunities, leaving them with no alternative but to avoid a loss in Ghana in order to advance to the final of the competition.
Remo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title
CAF dismisses USM appeal on controversial Confederation Cup duel
USM Alger arrive Morocco into a warm welcome
SUPER EAGLES TO FACE ENGLAND IN PRE-WORLD CUP FRIENDLY
Apart from Okwaraji, Nigeria’s Other Field-Related Obituaries
Grudgingly, Eto’o accepts new Cameroon coach Brys, but fails to attend ceremony
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoRemo Stars add fuel to the fire as title chase turns East – West battle
-
CAF Confederation Cup2 days agoNigeria’s Samson Adamu signs Algeria’s USM match forfeiture
-
UEFA Champions League1 week agoNigerians among Leverkusen’s African quintetin historic Bundesliga triumph
-
CAF Confederation Cup2 days agoBREAKING! CAF awards abandoned Confederation Cup semi-finals to Morocco’s RS Berkane
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoHeartland back to their homeland as they host Shooting Stars
-
CAF Confederation Cup7 days agoConfederation Cup runs into crisis as Moroccan players of RS Berkane are stranded at Algerian airport following seizure of jerseys and equipment
-
FEDERATION CUP1 week agoBREAKING! Federation Cup acquires presidential nomenclature…7th name since inception
-
CAF Confederation Cup6 days ago
CAF compels Algeria to release Morocco’s RS Berkane equipment