CAF Confederation Cup
KCCA Pulls Rivers United Down
Nigeria’s Rivers United are resting at the bottom of the Group A of the CAF Confederation Cup. No thanks to the horrible defending that left a Kampala City Council attacker unmarked to unleash a rocket-like shot, giving his side a deserved 2-1 win.
What a turnaround! The Ugandans moved from the bottom of the table to the second having amassed six points from three matches. Rivers United are pulled to the bottom and must follow the steps of other teams in the group by winning the next home match which is a reversed fixtures of that of this weekend.
The Ugandans went ahead in the 15th minute through Derrick Nsibambi before Bolaji Sarkin volleyed Rivers United back into the game. Score line at half time was 1-1. In the second half, Rivers United opted for defensive tactics and were constantly under severe pressure.
Under such situation, the Ugandans made great profits with long passes. In the 71st minute, Derrick Nsibambi got a long range shot and had enough time to control it before hitting the roof of the Rivers United net to achieve a brace.
Both teams meet in the reversed fixture on June 20. Earlier on Friday, Morocco’s FUS beat Club Africain 2-1 in added time to go to the top of the log.
GROUP A STANDING
P W D L F A GD Pts
FUS 3 2 0 1 5 2 3 6
KCCA 3 2 0 1 4 5 -1 6
Club Africain 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
Rivers United 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2 3
CAF Confederation Cup
USM Alger blame Algerian FA for club’s predicament
USM Alger of Algeria who were sanctioned with forfeiture and three-goal deficit for last Sunday Confederation Cup first leg semi-final duel have heaped all the blames on the Football Association of Algeria (FAF).
According to 360 Sport, the supporters of the Algerian club believed that USM was made a scapegoat by FAF which is the body to bear all the consequences of the the botched first leg match.
In a message posted on social networks, fans of the Algerian club raised their voices, reminding, in a severe but also playful tone, truths to the governing body of football in their country.
One of the supporters raised a poser: “Do you know that the federation asked the team to travel to Morocco and play against the Berkane club knowing that the latter will play with the jersey that was confiscated?”
The reason, they argue, is that the FAF is trying to “escape possible sanctions which could fall on the national team and the Algerian clubs participating in the African cups”.
“ We were a scapegoat ”
In their missive, the Algerian supporters go further by asserting: “everything is clear… We were a scapegoat par excellence. We urge the club not to travel to Morocco. “All Algerian football must be sanctioned and not just the USMA club.”
CAF Confederation Cup
Nigeria’s Samson Adamu signs Algeria’s USM match forfeiture
It is now official and has moved from the realm of speculations. Algeria’s USM Alger have forfeited their home match in the cancelled CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg duel with Morocco’s RS Berkane.
An official letter signed by Nigeria’s Samson Adamu has been addressed to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Adamu is CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events.
In the ;etter dated April 24, 2024 and sent to Nadir Bouzenad, the General Secretary of FAF, the English translation reads:
Algerian Football Federation (FAF)
“Subject: Match No 129 USMA (Algeria) vs. RS Berkane (Morocco) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024
At its meeting held on April 24, the Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System decided the following:
1. Sanction Club USMA with a forfeit of 0-3 for match no.129 USMA (Algeria) vs RS Berkane (Morocco) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024.
2. Submit the case to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions.
3. The return match RS Berkane (Morocco) vs USMA (Algeria) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024 – at the Municipal Stadium of Berkane – 8:00 p.m. (local time) on April 28, 2024 is maintained.”
It is however doubtful if USM will honour Sunday’s return match as Algeria pulled out of an Arab Handball Championship for the same reason that scuttled the CAF Confederation Cup match last Sunday.
The Algerians pulled out of a scheduled handball fixture against Morocco because of the map of the Moroccans’ shirts. Pulling out of the Confederation Cup return leg may also attract further sanctions as CAF has indicated.
CAF Confederation Cup
BREAKING! CAF awards abandoned Confederation Cup semi-finals to Morocco’s RS Berkane
Algeria’s USM Alger will have a mountain to climb if they honour the return leg of the Confederation Cup match against Morocco’s RS Berkane on Sunday. Governing body, CAF according to Moroccan outlet, sport.le360, has awarded the cancelled first leg match of last Sunday to RS Berkane as the host team that made the match impossible was declare loser with three goals against.
That is the outcome of the CAF inter-club competitions committee meeting. The match in question did not hold as Algerian authorities confiscated the jerseys of the Moroccans on the ground that they have outline map of Morocco that included a disputed southern province.
CAF had before the match the the jerseys in question are legitimate and had been worn in other matches before now. Algeria declined to accept the ruling.
It is however doubtful if the Algerians will honour the return leg as the Moroccans expectedly will wear the jerseys in dispute on their home ground.
The Algerians have reportedly withdrawn from the Arab U17 Handball Championship on account of having to face Morocco whose shirts will undoubtedly have the kingdom’s full map.
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