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CAF Champions League

JOURNEYMAN, TYAVKASE EYES CONTINENTAL GLORY WITH LOBI STARS

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7 years ago

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Midfielder David Tyavkase says winning yet another CAF Champions League title with Lobi Stars would be a far greater satisfaction than his glorious days with Enyimba.

The 34-year-old, a veteran on the Nigerian domestic scene, was also an important member of the Enyimba squad that won successive CAF Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004 as well as the CAF Super Cup in 2004 and 2005.

At the twilight of his career, Tyavkase has yet to show signs of a spent force, and he is an integral part of Lobi Stars, back in the group stage for the first time since 2000. His experience and trophy-laden days with Enyimba which saw him annex four league titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2010) and two FA Cup trophies (2005, 2009) has been the tool driving his quest for continental glory with the Makurdi-based club.

“Winning titles was a routine when I was at Enyimba but winning the league last year with Lobi Stars and qualification to play in the CAF Champions League, really made me very happy. It was the first time I was getting something with a team from my hometown and it was my fifth league title. Winning with Lobi Stars was special; it offered me fresh opportunities because I want to keep on playing football as long as I can.

“I hail from Gboko in Benue State (Middle Belt regional zone of Nigeria) and the two clubs that I grew up to know was BCC Lions of Gboko and Lobi Stars of Makurdi; so it’s a great honour for me to play in the CAF Champions League with a team from my state of origin,” said Tyavkase whose middle name, Terzungwe means ‘God is merciful’ in his Tiv dialect.

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Officially, this season marks Tyavkase’s 17th year as a professional player and beside stints with Gabonese duo, CF Mounana and US Bitam, he also played for Nigerian sides including defunct Gabros (now known as FC Ifeanyi Ubah) and Heartland.

His first spell with Enyimba lasted between 2003 and 2007 when the club became a dominant force on the continent. He bolted away to Lobi Stars where he spent a year before returning to Enyimba for another two years, 2009 and 2011. He was briefly at Heartland before his expedition to Gabon and only detoured to Lobi Stars in 2016.

“I started with Gabros in the 2001/ 2002 season, and then to Enyimba in 2003. I was lucky to have started my career early at the top level with players who were far ahead of me in terms of age and experience,” he explained.

After four rounds of matches, Lobi sit at the bottom of Group A tied on four points with Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas. South Africa’s Mamelofi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco share top spot on seven points apiece.

However, Tyavkase believes Lobi Stars can still progress to the quarters, adding the penultimate tie away to Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria is crucial to their aspirations.  

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“Lobi Stars have only four points now and we need all the three points in our next game against Mamelodi Sundowns to be in contention for the quarter finals. There is nothing impossible in football and we are seriously working towards getting a very good result away in Pretoria,” said Tyavkase, who has no immediate plans of hanging his boots.

“I want to keep on playing as long as I can; I can’t say this is when I want to quit playing football. I’m still very strong; I will stop playing football the day I can no longer kick the ball,” the 34-year old concluded.


– Cafonline

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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 Champions League

Hattrick Against Rivers United Earns Ahmed Atef El Sayed CAF Interclub Player of the Week

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2 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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Pyramids FC striker Ahmed Atef El Sayed has been named CAF Interclub Player of the Week after his sensational hat-trick powered the defending champions to a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United in their CAF Champions’ League Group A opener in Cairo.

The 26-year-old forward produced one of the standout performances of Matchday 1, showcasing lethal finishing, intelligent movement and big-match temperament as Pyramids began their title defence in emphatic fashion.

Rivers United had held firm in a tight and tactical first half, but Atef broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, reacting quickest in a crowded six-yard box to steer home from close range. The goal settled Pyramids and shifted momentum decisively in favour of the North Africans.

Just five minutes later, Atef struck again—this time with the pick of his goals. Rising above the defence, he powered a towering header into the top-right corner from Karim Hafez’s precise cross, underlining his growing pedigree as one of the continent’s most dangerous penalty-box strikers.

He completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, guiding a composed right-footed strike into the bottom-left corner after an incisive pass from Mohamed Reda. Each goal demonstrated a different dimension of his finishing ability and highlighted why he has become indispensable to Pyramids’ attacking blueprint.

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With Atef leading the charge, Pyramids controlled the final stages of the match, securing a win that places them level on points with Morocco’s RS Berkane at the top of Group A.

His heroics not only delivered a perfect start for the Egyptian champions but also reaffirmed his rising status among Africa’s elite attackers. CAF’s recognition of his performance underscores his influence as Pyramids seek to become the first club in over a decade to win back-to-back Champions League titles.

Eyes on the Next Challenge

Atef will once again be central to Pyramids’ ambitions when they travel to face Power Dynamos in their second Group A fixture on Saturday. With his confidence soaring and his form peaking at the right moment, the striker is expected to play a decisive role as the champions continue their pursuit of continental history.

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CAF Champions League

Atef’s Second-Half Hat-Trick dry up Rivers United as Pyramids Cruise to 3–0 Win

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3 days ago

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November 22, 2025

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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC began their title defence in emphatic fashion on Friday, defeating Nigeria’s Rivers United 3–0 in their opening Group B match, courtesy of a sensational second-half hat-trick by Egyptian forward Ahmed Atef El Sayed.

The fixture, featuring two teams tipped as strong contenders in the group that also includes Morocco’s RS Berkane and Zambia’s Power Dynamos, lived up to its billing—at least for the Egyptians, who seized control after a tight first half.

Rivers United produced a disciplined defensive display in the opening 45 minutes, occasionally threatening on the counter while keeping the champions at bay. But their organisation collapsed after the restart, and Pyramids capitalised with ruthless precision.

Ahmed Atef—whose shirt carries the name Ahmed Atef—broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a composed finish. The striker struck again just five minutes later, doubling Pyramids’ lead and deflating Rivers United’s earlier resistance. He completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute, capping a brilliant individual performance and sealing a dominant victory for the Egyptians.

The result leaves Rivers United with early work to do in a competitive Group B, while Pyramids underline once again why they are considered one of Africa’s rising football powerhouses.

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CAF Champions League

Rivers United Eye Historic Upset in Cairo Against Defending Champions Pyramids FC

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4 days ago

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November 22, 2025

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Rivers United will step onto the turf of the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Saturday with one mission—announce their arrival among Africa’s elite by challenging reigning CAF Champions League champions Pyramids FC in their opening Group A fixture.

For the Port Harcourt-based side, this clash marks a historic milestone. Rivers United are Nigeria’s first club to reach the CAF Champions League group stage since Enyimba in 2018, and their maiden appearance comes with both pride and purpose.

Coach Finidi George, whose side finished runners-up in the Nigeria Premier Football League last season, led the team to the group stage after tough aggregate victories:

  • 1–0 over Aigles du Congo (DR Congo)
  • 3–2 over Black Bulls (Mozambique)

The Nigerians now have their sights set on proving they belong at this level. While Pyramids FC enter the match as clear favourites—armed with a 5-0 and 3-1 aggregate sweep through the preliminaries—the Nigerian flag-bearers believe they can cause an upset.

Finidi George has placed emphasis on defensive discipline and transitional play, the same approach that carried Rivers through two challenging rounds.

The Nigerian side will also draw confidence from the fact that Pyramids will be without several key players, including Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal and Mostafa Fathi, all ruled out through injury.

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Their Congolese star Fiston Mayele and Moroccan defender Mohamed Chibi will arrive late after attending the CAF Awards.

Rivers United, in contrast, have had uninterrupted preparations and travel to Cairo with a full-strength squad.

Olanrewaju Yemi Daniel, assistant to Coach Finidi George remarked on a radio programme anchored by Godwin Enakhena that Rivers United have respect for the defending champions, but are far from being afraid.

Pyramids FC enter the group stage on the back of a fairytale year—winning the CAF Champions League, CAF Super Cup, and the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Club Championship, as well as dominating the CAF Awards.

But Rivers United insist they are not in Cairo to admire their hosts.

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“We know what Pyramids have achieved, but we also know what we are capable of,” a club official said before departure. “This is a chance for Rivers United to show that Nigerian football still belongs among Africa’s very best.”

Coach Finidi has reportedly echoed the sentiment internally, urging his players to approach the fixture with “courage, structure and belief.”

Group A Battle Begins

Rivers United share Group A with:

  • Pyramids FC (Egypt) – defending champions
  • RS Berkane (Morocco) – two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners
  • Power Dynamos (Zambia)

A positive start in Cairo could set the tone for what would be a landmark campaign for Nigerian club football.

For Rivers United, Saturday’s match is more than a group-stage opener—it is a statement of return, resilience and ambition.

And as they walk out into the echoing stands of the 30 June Stadium, they will be carrying the hopes of a nation eager to see Nigeria reclaim its place on the continent’s biggest club stage.

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