CAF Confederation Cup

ALGERIAN CHALLENGE DOES NOT SCARE US, SAYS RANGERS’ GBENGA OGUNBOTE

Published

5 years ago

December 11, 2018

Although Nigeria flagbearers, Rangers found it relatively easy overpowering Ethiopia’s Defence Force in the CAF Confederation Cup, it is envisaged that the challenge from Algeria’s Union Sportive Medinat Bel Abbes (USMBA) will be stiffer when they clash this weekend.

Only last month, Rangers completed a double with a 2-0 home win and 3-1 away win against Defence FC of Ethiopia in the Preliminary Round which came on the back of that stunning win of the Nigeria national cup on penalties when they overcame a 3-0 deficit to tie scores at 3-3 at the expense of KanoPillars to qualify for this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

“ Our comeback in some recent matches is not a question of strategy rather we always play to our strength,” Rangers’ trainer Gbenga Ogunbote told cafonline.com

“ We sometimes conceded cheap goals but we don’t give up easily especially when we realised that we are better than the opposing team.

“ I feel very great after winning both the home and away match against Defence FC of Lesotho in the last round. After the first leg, there were criticisms here that we didn’t play well.

“ But we went over there (Addis Ababa) for the second leg and got an away win.These victories home and away confirmed our superiority and I want to give thanks to God for that.”

Yet speaking against the background of recent poor performances of many Nigerian clubs on the continent, Ogunbote surmised Rangers must show sterner stuff against USMBA who easily dismissed Lisor FC of Liberia 4-1 on aggregate last month.

“Though many Nigerians teams have not done well against North African teams recently, I believe there’s always a turnaround in life,” noted Ogunbote who lost narrowly to Club Africain of Tunisia at the semi-final stage of the2011 CAF Confederation Cup during his spell in charge of Sunshine Stars of Akure.

“We need to work harder in order to get very far in this competition; we shall do our best and make sure that they (USMBA) do not stop us at this stage.”

Incidentally, Rangers are yet to progress within the trophy range in four previous CAF Confederation Cup attempts and just last year, the Flying Antelopes were halted in their flight by ZESCO United of Zambia in the play-off round.

However, Ogunbote offered on Rangers’ preparedness this term: “We are aware of the efforts put into the team before we secured the qualification to play in this competition but this is yet to be our dream team. All the same, the resilience and never-say-die attitude of the players; and above all, the grace of God have taken us to this stage.

“My last record in this same competition was reaching the semi-finals with Sunshine of Akure. I will be happy if I can go a better further with Rangers and I’m not just thinking but that is my prayers.

“Football is a team sport and I can’t begin to single out a single player. My understanding of the game is that we are a team and team means ‘together everyone achieve much’.

“So, our collective contribution as a team is very important if we want to go far in this competition.”

Meanwhile, Rangers will host USMBA this weekend in this Round of 1/16th first leg at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu while the reverse fixture holds a week later in Algiers and the aggregate winner over the two legs will progress to the Group Stage.

CAF Confederation Cup

USM Alger blame Algerian FA for club’s predicament

Published

2 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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.