CAF Champions League
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LOBI STARS CHALLENGE ‘THE BRAZILIANS’
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
The Pride of Benue, as Lobi Stars are fondly called, start their group stage campaign in the CAF Champions League on Friday by welcoming 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the adopted home ground of the Makurdi-based side.
It’s the second time at this stage for the Nigerian champions who finished third – behind group leaders Hearts of Oak of Ghana and Egypt’s Al Ahly- in the 2000 edition.
Lobi Stars won the abridged Nigerian Premier Football League last season to qualify as the country’s only club in the continent’s flagship club tournament. On their way to the group stage, they dispatched Cameroon’s UMS de Loum 2-1 aggregate at the preliminary stage and Gor Mahia of Kenya on away goal rule after 3-3 deadlock in the first round.
On their part, Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea 7-1 aggregate in the preliminary stage and Libya’s Al-Ahly Benghazi 4-0 aggregate thereafter.
Unlike Lobi Stars, who returned to this competition after an 18-year hiatus, the Brazilians from South Africa have not missed out of the Champions League since 2015 and were quarterfinalists in 2017. Finalists in 2001, Mamelodi Sundowns have a far better credentials than Lobi Stars on the continent.
While Lobi Stars have not been actively engaged as a result of the prolonged delay in commencing the local season, Mamelodi Sundowns have been in the groove in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League which is going into its 18th Matchday this weekend.
Coming into this match, Pitso Mosimane’s men have remained unbeaten in their last nine matches winning five and, playing a draw on four occasions
Sundowns will count on goalkeeper Denis Onyango, controversially placed in Africa XI released by CAF this week, to continue his good form. The Ugandan stopper, who helped his national team qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations without conceding a goal with a match remaining in the qualifying round, is expected to be tested by Sikiru Alimi, who scored three of the five goals by Lobi Stars en-route the group stage.
Although Lobi Stars have kept a clean sheet at home in the competition, they should be wary of Jeremy Brockie, Mamelodi Sundowns’ leading scorer in the tournament with three games from four outings.
Defender Chile Azu says Lobi Stars are not intimidated by the pedigree of their South African counterparts as they have been concentrating on only their on preparations.
“We know the assignment at hand and are more than ready to make our fans happy right from the first game until the entire six games we are going to play in the group stage. We are going to be focused on our preparations while we are going to wait to get more information about them. We are not afraid,” he told goal.com.
Winning the first match is crucial in a group that features two other former champions.
Also in Group A, 2017 winners Wydad Casablanca will face-off with ASEC Mimosas later same Friday. While the Moroccan side also won the competition in 1992 and were runners-up in 2011, their Ivorien opponents were victorious in 1998 and runners-up in 1995.
This term, Wydad got a bye into the first round where they kicked out ASC Diaraf of Senegal on away goal rule after 3-3 deadlock in both legs, while ASEC beat Gabon’s AS Mangasport 1-0 aggregate in the preliminary round and Mali’s Stade Malien 2-0 aggregate in the first round.
The Confederation Cup will feature the playoff round leading to the group stage. Nigeria’s representatives Enugu Rangers will be in Lesotho to challenge Bantu FC on Sunday.
Friday fixtures…
CAF Champions League (Matchday 1)
Group A: Lobi Stars (Nigeria) vMamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) (5pm),
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)vASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) (8pm)
Group B: Horoya (Guinea) v Espérance (Tunisia) (5pm)
Group C: Club Africain (Tunisia) v CS Constantine (Algeria) (8pm)
CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff first leg):
- Al-Ahly Benghazi (Libya) v NA Hussein Dey (Algeria) (5pm)
Saturday fixtures…
CAF Champions League (Matchday 1)
Group B: FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa) (2pm)
Group C: TP Mazembe (DR Congo) v Ismaily (Egypt) (2pm)
Group D: Simba (Tanzania) v JS Saoura (Algeria) (2pm),
Al-Ahly (Egypt) v AS Vita Club (DR Congo) (8pm)
CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff first leg):
- Nkana (Zambia) v FC San Pédro (Côte d’Ivoire) (2pm)
- Vipers (Uganda) v CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) (2pm)
- African Stars FC (Namibia) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco) (3pm)
- Stade Malien (Mali) v Petro de Luanda (Angola) (5pm)
Sunday fixtures…
CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff first leg):
- Bantu FC (Lesotho) v Rangers (Nigeria) (3pm)
- Gor Mahia (Kenya) v New Star FC (Cameroon) (2pm)
- ZESCO United (Zambia) v Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) (2pm)
- Jimma Aba Jifar (Ethiopia) v Hassania Agadir (Morocco) (2pm);
- Coton Sport (Cameroon) v Ashante Kotoko SC (Ghana), (3.30pm)
- AS Otôho (Congo Republic) v KCCA (Uganda) (3:30pm)
- Ittihad Tanger (Morocco) v Zamalek (Egypt) (4pm)
- Al-Nasr (Libya) v Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) (5pm)
- ASC Diaraf (Senegal) v RS Berkane (Morocco) (5:30pm),
- Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) v Mukura Victory Sports (Rwanda) (6pm)
CAF Champions League
Heartbreak for Al Ahly as Sundowns edge to CAF Champions League final on away goals rule
Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a dramatic spot in the final of the CAF Champions League after holding Al Ahly to a 1-1 draw in Cairo on Friday night, progressing on the away goals rule.
After a tense 0-0 stalemate in the first leg in Pretoria, it was Al Ahly who drew first blood in the return leg at the Cairo International Stadium.
Taher Mohamed fired the hosts into the lead midway through the first half, smashing home from outside the box after being teed up by the lively Emam Ashour.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Al Ahly dominated much of the first period and looked on course to finally break their winless streak against the South Africans.
But Mamelodi Sundowns showed their resilience and turned the tie on its head in the closing stages.
With ten minutes remaining, a low cross caused panic in the Ahly defence, resulting in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure from Peter Shalulile.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the Egyptian giants and a lifeline for Sundowns, who knew a 1-1 draw would be enough to see them through.
Al Ahly threw everything forward in search of a late winner, with substitutes Achraf Bencharki and Wessam Abou Ali both going close in a frantic finale.
But Sundowns, marshalled superbly by their backline and aided by a bit of fortune, held firm to seal a famous qualification.
It marks a significant milestone for Pretoria-based side, who have now gone nine consecutive matches unbeaten against the record African champions.
Sundowns’ reward is a place in the final, where they will face either Pyramids FC or Orlando Pirates — with the second semi-final set to be decided later.
For Al Ahly, it was a night of bitter disappointment despite their brave efforts, as their dream of a record-extending CAF Champions League title came to a crashing halt at home.
-CAF
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CAF Champions League
Late Mayele heroics send Pyramids into historic first final after five-goal thriller
The Egyptian side Pyramids sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando Pirates in Cairo on Friday night to book their place in the final of the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history.
After a goalless first leg in Johannesburg, both sides came out determined at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, and it was Pirates who struck first when Relebohile Mofokeng slotted home from close range midway through the first half.
The lead, however, was short-lived. Pyramids levelled just before half-time, with Fiston Mayele pouncing on a cross from Mostafa Fathi to restore parity.
The end-to-end nature of the contest continued after the break, and Pirates regained the advantage when Mohau Nkota fired in a superb low drive on 52 minutes.
Yet the Egyptian side showed their resolve in front of their home fans. Ramadan Sobhi rose highest to meet a Mohamed Chibi cross, heading past Sipho Chaine to make it 2-2 just moments later.
The decisive moment came with just six minutes remaining.
After a goalmouth scramble from a corner, Mayele reacted quickest, hammering the ball into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.
Despite late pressure from the South African visitors, including efforts from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng, Pyramids held on to secure a famous win and extend their remarkable unbeaten home record to 23 matches.
The result means Pyramids will face Mamelodi Sundowns, who earlier eliminated Al Ahly on away goals, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final.
For Orlando Pirates, it was a brave effort but one that ultimately fell short, ending their hopes of a second CAF Champions League title.
-CAF
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Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns are set for a blockbuster clash on Friday night at Cairo International Stadium as they battle for a place in the final of the CAF Champions League.
With the first leg in Pretoria ending goalless, everything is still to play for in this highly anticipated second-leg encounter.
Despite Al Ahly’s rich history and dominance in African club football, Sundowns have held the upper hand in recent meetings.
The South African giants are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Cairo club, scoring 11 goals and conceding just five in that run.
Al Ahly have not defeated Sundowns since May 2021 and will be looking to overturn that trend on home soil.
The hosts have been rock solid at the back in this season’s Champions League, keeping three consecutive clean sheets.
Their defensive resilience will be key once again, especially against a Sundowns side that has failed to score in its last 216 minutes of continental action.
Peter Shalulile, with three goals to his name in the tournament, remains the Brazilians’ biggest threat up front.
Midfielder Emam Ashour has been pivotal to Al Ahly’s campaign, scoring five times — joint-highest in the competition — and will be expected to spark the attack once more.
Home advantage could prove crucial for the Egyptians.
They are unbeaten in their last six home games across all competitions and boast three wins from four home matches in this CAF Champions League campaign.
Sundowns, meanwhile, have struggled on the road, managing just one win in four away matches this season.
With a place in the final at stake, both sides will be pushing to make their mark in what promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity clash under the Cairo lights.
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