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CAF Confederation Cup

CAF CONFEDERATION CUP FINAL: CAN VITA CLUB CANCEL DEFICIT?

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BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

Raja Casablanca go into the last match of CAF clubs 2018 season with high expectations to come out victorious and lift the title they last won in 2003, then known as CAF Cup.

 

The Moroccans have a 3-0 cushion achieved in the first leg in Casablanca a week ago

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Reversing such a huge margin in the final is not common even as home teams deploy all tactics – fair and unfair – to overcome their visitors.

 

Three-time winners of the elite CAF Champions League, Raja understand how to hold their nerves in important fixtures. And their coach, Juan Carlos Garrido has refused to get carried away by the first leg result.

 

Shortly after beating Vita Club in Casablanca, Garrido told the media that his squad needed to concentrate on the second leg at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

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“That match is going to be huge. Today (last Sunday), this match is over. As from tomorrow we have to start preparing for the return leg, which is the final. That match is definite.”

 

The Spaniard have a personal history in sight. He is on the verge of becoming the first ever coach to win this title with two clubs after his success with Egypt’s Al-Ahly four seasons ago.

 

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Raja will be without striker Moussine Iajour who has been banned by CAF for three continental club matches over an incident at the end of last Sunday’s first leg fixture.

 

“Iajour was expelled at the end of the match for giving violent head shot to a player of AS Vita Club,” CAF statement reads.

But AS Vita coach Florent Ibenge is determined not to allow history repeat itself by cancelling the deficit and going ahead to win the club’s first continental trophy since 1973 when they were crowned African champions through the then African Cup of Champions Clubs (now CAF Champions League).

He believes that no two matches are the same, while admitting that the huge loss in Casablanca has made life complicated for this side.

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“Even in training when a team leads by three goals to zero, the game is stopped because it is considered that the match is over. But we have seen in history scenarios that have redefined themselves in another way. Let’s hope and work to show another image better than the first leg.”

He may be banking on their performance in the semifinal when the Congolese club bashed Al-Masry SC of Egypt 4-0 in the second leg to land in the final by the same aggregate score.

Ibenge was in charge of Vita Club when they lost CAF Champions League final to Algeria’s ES Sétif four years ago.

Vita Club’s local rivals TP Mazembe won the last two editions of this competition. Will that inspire the Black Dolphins to achieve one of the greatest comebacks in the finals of CAF competitions to emulate their compatriots?

Fixture…

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AS Vita Club (DR Congo) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco) (8pm)

(First leg Raja Casablanca 3-0)

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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CAF Confederation Cup

‘Nzogbu Nzogbu’ Enyimba enyi as Enyimba limp into Confederation Cup Group stage!

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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.

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CAF Confederation Cup

CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba target victory after Solid Showing in Bamako

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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.”

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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!

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CAF Confederation Cup

Enyimba’s midfielder, Daga confident of Confederation Cup group stage ticket

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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.

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“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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