CAF Confederation Cup

CAF Confederation Cup: KCCA Unmasked- Tactics, Style and Personnel

Published

8 years ago

June 19, 2017

BY SAMMY WEJINYA

Nigeria’s Rivers United will on Tuesday face Uganda’s KCCA as the battle in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup resumes. The Nigerian side is facing a very special KCCA squad! They have managed to accomplish what no other side before them (since the club was founded in 1963) could.

They managed to win the double; a feat completed on Thursday June 15 when they beat Paidha Black Angels 2-0 in the FUFA Cup final in Arua.

KCCA had earlier wrapped up the Ugandan league title this season making them the undisputed heavyweights of Ugandan football at this point in time.

The Kasasiro Boys (Garbage Collectors) are riding the crest of a wave and their stars believe they can walk on water following a string of impressive results in recent weeks.

So how can they be stopped at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium on Tuesday?

The Coach

Mutebi is widely viewed as a father figure in Uganda. He’s never scared of giving youth a chance and six of his charges played for the Cranes, Uganda’s national team in last weekend’s 1-0 away victory over Cape Verde in 2019 Afcon qualifying.

The playing style of KCCA is direct with fluid passing and movement of individuals in the final third interchanged at pace.

As far as formation goes, Mutebi is no Dinosaur! The tactician is flexible but usually favours a 4-4-2 or 5-2-3-1 depending on the opposition.

It is extremely likely that he will slant towards the latter on Tuesday for very obvious reasons

The Backline

The major weakness of KCCA is their defence. Goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan is an impressive goalkeeper but he is no Manuel Neuer!

The back four can also be suspect and have a penchant for losing concentration at key moments, largely due to the lack of years of key dramatis personae in this area of the pitch.

Paul Musamali, Timothy Awani, Isaac Muleme and Denis Okot Oola, the captain are sure bets to start in the KCCA defence on Tuesday.

Mutebi could throw in an extra defender as the priority will be NOT to lose to the Nigerian vice-champions on enemy territory.

The Midfield

This is KCCA’s biggest strength/potent weapon. Mutebi’s ‘middlemen’ NEVER stop running in any game.

They interchange positions delightfully, engage in dizzying spells of one-touch possession football and keep opponents guessing.

Tom Masiko (Jnr), the son of club legend, Tom (Snr) has grown in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years.

He worried the Rivers United defence to no end at Lugogo in the reverse fixture and is sure to start on the right side of the KCCA midfield on Tuesday.

Another midfielder that the United defenders will do well to keep an eye on is Muzamiru Mutyaba.

The ‘poor man’s Diego Armando Maradona’ is a midfielder of the highest quality and basically every attacking move of side passes through him.

Blessed with uncanny vision, low centre of gravity and nimble footwork, he was the liveliest creative KCCA player in the reverse fixture.

If Mutyaba plays well on Tuesday, Rivers United could well be in serious trouble! The Rivers United defenders are probably still having nightmares of him following that devastating display two weeks ago at Lugogo!

The Strikers

As far as strikers are concerned, the twin terrors are Geoffrey Serunkuma and Derrick Nsibambi.

Serunkuma has yet to open his account in the CAF Confederation Cup despite scoring four times in this season’s CAF Champions League.

He’s hungry….very hungry for goals and will want to ‘eat’ at YGS on Tuesday! Nsibambi needs no introduction to the Rivers United faithful.

He netted a brilliant double to put them to the sword at the Philip Omondi Stadium, Kampala on June 3.

The Dangerman

The one man who could be the standout performer on Tuesday is a youngster; born on December 28, 1999 he is widely viewed as the future of Ugandan football.

Enter, Golden boy, Allan Okello!

Fresh faced, talented and fearless! Okello reminds one of Lionel Messi! You know what he’s going to do but you are absolutely powerless to stop him when he orchestrates it!

He was a thorn in the flesh of Rivers United’s defenders in the first leg with his direct running and intelligent runs off the ball.

So it appears pretty straightforward….cage Okello, Masiko and Mutyaba at YGS on Tuesday and (no prizes guessing), the supply line to Serunkuma and Nsimbabi is nullified!

If KCCA don’t score, chances are that Rivers United will win especially with the well-documented issues with the defence of the Ugandan double winners.

United have been poor offensively domestically but have looked a completely different proposition on the continent.

The Pride of Rivers have scored in all their previous continental matches at YGS against AS Real Bamako (Mali), Al Merreikh (Sudan), Rayon Sports (Rwanda) and FUS Rabat (Morocco).

CAF Confederation Cup

Djoliba motivate Players with Motorbikes Ahead of Confederation Cup Clash with Abia Warriors

Published

1 month ago

August 14, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Mali’s Djoliba AC have handed out 21 motorbikes to their players as part of an incentive drive ahead of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, where they will face Nigerian debutants Abia Warriors in the preliminary round.

The Bamako giants, who have long dominated Malian domestic football alongside rivals Stade Malien, hope the gifts will help the squad recapture past continental glory, having finished runners-up in the 2012 competition.

Club officials said the motorbikes came with strict conditions — they are to be used exclusively for training and matchday transport.

“The bikes must not be used for social activities or commercial purposes. We presented the gifts to ensure our boys arrive early for matches and achieve success,” a Djoliba official explained.

Motorbikes remain a popular means of transport in West Africa, where the cost of purchasing and maintaining cars is beyond the reach of many.

Djoliba will host Abia Warriors in the first leg of their preliminary tie in September, before travelling to Nigeria for the return leg. Victory would set up a second-round meeting with either USFA of Burkina Faso or AS Gbohloe-Su des Lacs of Togo for a place in the lucrative group stage, which guarantees each club $400,000.

CAF has also doubled its financial support for teams eliminated in the qualifying rounds to $100,000, a move aimed at easing the high travel and accommodation costs across Africa.

Despite Djoliba’s ambitions, history favours North African dominance in the competition — clubs from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have won 17 of the 22 editions. Among the favourites for the upcoming season are Zamalek of Egypt, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, 2023 champions USM Alger, and Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria.

Reigning champions Renaissance Berkane of Morocco will not defend their crown, having qualified instead for the CAF Champions League.

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CAF Confederation Cup

Full Fixtures of CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 Preliminary Round Draw Deliver Mouthwatering Clashes

Published

1 month ago

August 10, 2025

Kunle Solaja

The road to continental glory in the CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 has officially begun following the Preliminary Round draw held at Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday.

Click HERE for the full list of fixtures.

A total of 58 clubs from across Africa will compete in this year’s edition, with several blockbuster fixtures already lined up in the opening rounds.

Six of the continent’s top-ranked clubs – Wydad AC (Morocco), USM Alger (Algeria), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Zamalek SC (Egypt), Al Masry SC (Egypt), and Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) – have been handed byes into the Second Preliminary Round based on CAF Club Rankings.

In one of the standout ties, Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko will face fellow West Africans Kwara United of Nigeria, with the winners taking on Moroccan powerhouse Wydad AC in the next round.

Senegal’s Génération Foot meet Côte d’Ivoire’s Amadou Diallo FC, with the winners set for a showdown against former CAF Confederation Cup champions USM Alger.

Another intriguing clash sees Hafia FC of Guinea battle Algeria’s CR Belouizdad, while Burkina Faso’s USFA host Nigeria’s Abia Warriors, with Mali’s Djoliba AC awaiting in the Second Preliminary Round.

Elsewhere, Tanzania’s Azam FC will have to navigate past Zanzibar’s KMKM SC and South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu for a place in the next stage, while Uganda’s NEC FC take on Sudan’s Al Ahli Madani, with Tunisia’s Étoile Sportive du Sahel awaiting the winners.

Zambia’s Zesco United lock horns with Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers for a potential tie against Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, while DR Congo’s second representative will meet Angola’s Kabuscrop de Palanca for a spot against South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs.

The draw has also thrown up regional derbies, debut appearances for ambitious newcomers, and the prospect of titanic North African clashes in the latter stages.

The journey to glory will begin with the Preliminary Round, played over two legs on the weekends of 19–21 September and 26–28 September 2025. Victors will advance to the Second Preliminary Round on 17–19 October, with the return legs a week later from 24–26 October.

The successful sides will earn their place in the Group Stage, which kicks off on 21 November 2025.

From there, the best of the best will battle through to the knockout stage, starting on 13 March 2026, with the dream of lifting African football’s most coveted club trophies.

-Cafonline

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CAF Confederation Cup

Nigeria–Ghana Rivalry Rekindled as Kwara United Face Asante Kotoko in Confederation Cup

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2025

Kunle Solaja

By KUNLE SOLAJA.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, the age-old Nigeria–Ghana football rivalry will be reignited as Asante Kotoko host Kwara United in the first leg. Asante Kotoko were African champions in 1970 and 1983.

This is their seventh appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ghanaian side, which will host the first leg, has also featured in the old CAF Winners Cup seven times.

Kwara United are also not newcomers on the continental stage. This will be their third venture at the CAF Confederation Cup after those of 2007 and the 2022/23 season. They were quarter finalists in the 1999 edition of the old-styled CAF Cup.

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