CAF Champions League

RANGERS, LOBI STARS WILL SCALE THE HEIGHTS, VICTOR EZEJI TELLS CAF

Published

6 years ago

February 21, 2019

Victor Ezeji is an iconic figure in Nigerian football, having spent his entire career on the local front. He is currently an ambassador for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) since retiring after a career that lasted nearly two decades.

A proud member of the Enyimba squad the broke the country’s almost three decades continental drought by winning the CAF Champions League trophy in 2003, Ezeji has other remarkable credentials attached to his name including winning a domestic double with Dolphins (now Rivers United) of Port Harcourt in 2004. He also featured for a string of other local clubs (Sharks, Sunshine Stars, Heartland) and a short spell with Club Africain of Tunisia. Holder of a degree in accounting from the University of Port-Harcourt, the 37-year-old Ezeji talked to CAFOnline.com about the exploits of the two Nigerian teams involved in the continental club championships, Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers as well as his transition from the pitch to TV punditry. Below are excerpts;

CAFOnline.com: What is the major key to success for clubs playing on the continent?

Victor Ezeji: Good preparation is a non-negotiable factor for any club to succeed in continental club competitions. It involves so many things including the quality of your playing staff; travelling arrangements; management of the matches and other minute factors. Any team that prepares well would do well and I can say by and large, the two teams representing Nigeria this time, Lobi Stars and Rangers are coping well despite challenges on the domestic front such as fixture congestion.

How would you rate the performance of Lobi Stars thus far?

Lobi Stars have not done badly in the Total Champions League. After losing 1-0 at home to Wydad Athletic Club, many expected ‘them to skinned alive’ in the return.

They managed to get a draw, which is a morale booster ahead of their next game against Mamelodi Sundowns. If they can get a good result against Sundowns, they would be back on the stream by the time they host ASEC Mimosas in the penultimate match. They still have a great possibility of qualifying for the quarterfinals if they can manage their situation very well.

What of Rangers?

Rangers have yet to suffer defeat and we have to applaud their efforts especially in a group with former winners’ Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien.

In their last game away to Sfaxien, they fought back to draw level less than two minutes after Sfaxien had taken the lead; and that shows the sort of confidence they have. Surprisingly, they are the team to beat despite the presence of the two Tunisian top sides. Rangers have so many experienced players in their fold as well as experienced management staff. There is nothing better than blending experience and youth. I expect Rangers to progress to the next stage.

Which players have caught your attention from both Rangers and Lobi Stars?

From Rangers, Godwin Aguda, Bright Silas and their entire backline especially Ajani Ibrahim have done well. On the part of Lobi Stars, they have blended experienced players with youths; and imagine the presence of David Tyavkase who was my teammate when we won the CAF Champions League trophy with Enyimba in 2003. They also have an experienced player in Cletus Itodo and others that would naturally guide the younger players in the squad.

How soon would a Nigerian club win a continental trophy?

With the way the trend is going, we are almost getting close. Last season, Enyimba made it to the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup before losing to eventual winners Raja Club Athletic.

Lobi Stars and Rangers have done well so far and I think they can go further especially if they make the quarters. Usually, it’s a gradual process like we did with Enyimba in the early 2000’s before the club became a very strong force. In the next two or three years, we should get a club to bring back home a continental club trophy.

Your transition from being a player to TV pundit has been so swift; what prepared you for this new life after retirement from football?

Life after football has not always being easy and rosy. When you are playing, you’re on top of the world because virtually everything was done for you. You hardly do or think for yourself because most of your responsibilities would be taken care by others because they want you to focus on just playing football. But you are faced with stark reality of life once you stop playing. I had long planned to be a TV pundit even whiles playing.

That’ s why I opted out of coaching when I retired; but working with SuperSport has given me the kind of opportunity I wanted. This has given me the opportunity to also share my wealth of experience with the players as well as the fans since I can always provide better insights having gone through the same route. It has been a wonderful experience for me because it has made me to do more research and learn more about the game.

I also think, it serves as a big motivation for younger players and it shows that irrespective of what you are doing today, you can be whatever you want to be. Generally, life after football has been truly amazing for me; I still work out and play as much as I can with younger players and friends.

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

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CAF Champions League

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

Published

7 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

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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.

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