CAF Champions League

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LOBI STARS SEEK REDEMPTION IN MOROCCO

Published

6 years ago

February 12, 2019

BY APESIN ADEMOLA

Lobi Stars will step out at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah to see how well they can revive their hope of progressing to the quarterfinals of this season’s CAF Champions League. After only one win in three group matches, the Pride of Benue lie in third position, three points off the qualifying zone.

The devastating effects of their home defeat to tonight’s opponents Wydad Casablanca should ring in the ears of Solomon Ogbeide’s squad and spur them to get result in this all-important fixture.

After three matches, Lobi Stars have collected only three points as against six by log leaders Wydad and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Nigerian champions are poor travellers having lost all their away matches in the competition: 1-2 to Cameroon’s UMS de Loum in the premilinary round, 1-3 to Gor Mahia of Kenya in the first round and 0-1 to ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire on Matchday 2 of the group stage.

Given the poor run of Nigerian teams against north African opposition, this is a match to dread for Lobi Stars, who will however be buoyed by the return to action of left back Chidiebube Duru from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the first leg against Wydad.

Reflecting on that loss to their Moroccan guests in Enugu, Duru told Goal, “we have realised what we did wrong at home and are expecting a positive result in Casablanca because we have prepared very well for the game and have corrected the mistakes noticed in our last game with them.

“I am happy that I have overcome my injury worries and looking forward to helping my team against Wydad Casablanca. We do not expect an easy game and we are going to give our hosts a big push for the three points.”

In the other match of the group, ASEC Mimosas will strive to pay Mamelodi Sundowns in their own coins having lost the earlier game 1-3 in Johannesburg.

Sundowns have been in Abidjan since Thursday to acclimatise and be adequately prepared for the task ahead. That gives them confidence that they will be the first team to score against Mimosas at home in this season’s Champions League.

In Group C, the re-entry of Ismaily has thrown up new challenges for the teams involved here. CAF announced earlier in the week that the Egyptian side won their appeal against their earlier expulsion from the competition on account of crowd troubles.

That restored Ismaily’s matches with DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and Club Africain of Tunisia with the latter now heading the group on superior goal difference over Algeria’s CS Constantine. Both clubs now have six points each as against three by Club Africain and none for Ismaily.

CAF is yet to announce when Ismaily’s outstanding matches will be played.

Meanwhile, Club Africain host Mazembe with the aim of winning their second match of the group stage and drawing level on points with their opponents and CS Constantine.

In Group B, title holders Espérance and Orlando Pirates go head-to-head in Tunis in a battle of the frontrunners. Both teams lead the other pair – Horoya and FC Platinum, who also face themselves – by two points.

Veteran title winners Al-Ahly are away to Simba in Dar-es-Salam and will stay on top of Group D if they avoid defeat to the team they walloped 5-0 in the first leg.

Vita Club, who travel to Algeria to face JS Saoura, queue behind Al-Ahly who are three points better.

Matchday 4 fixtures

Group A:

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) v Lobi Stars (Nigeria) (first leg Wydad Casablanca 1-0) (8pm)
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) (first leg Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1) (5pm)

Group B:

Espérance (Tunisia) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa) (first leg 0-0)
Horoya (Guinea) v FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) (first leg Horoya 1-0) (both 2pm)

Group C:

Club Africain (Tunisia) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo) (first leg TP Mazembe 8-0) (5pm)

Group D:

Simba (Tanzania) v Al-Ahly (Egypt) (first leg Al-Ahly 5-0) (2pm)
JS Saoura (Algeria) v AS Vita Club (DR Congo) (first leg 2-2) (8pm)

CAF Champions League

Heartbreak for Al Ahly as Sundowns edge to CAF Champions League final on away goals rule

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

CAF Champions League

Late Mayele heroics send Pyramids into historic first final after five-goal thriller

Published

8 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Pyramids’ Fiston Mayele celebrates his goal

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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

CAF Champions League

Al Ahly, Sundowns brace for Cairo showdown with final spot on the line

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa is challenged by Al Ahly’s Ahmed Reda Hashem in the first leg encounter.

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H