CAF Champions League

CAF CLUB COMPETITIONS: ENYIMBA, PILLARS, OTHERS KNOW OPPONENTS

Published

6 years ago

July 22, 2019

BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE

Nigeria’s Premier League champions, Enyimba will start next season’s CAF Champions League campaign in the first round with a first leg fixture against Burkinabe representatives, Rahimo FC, while Kano Pillars will go up against Ghana’s Asante Kotoko at the same stage.

While the People’s Elephants travel for the first leg, which holds between August 9 and 11, Pillars will host the Ghana representatives before travelling to Kumasi for the second leg fixed for between August 23 and 25.

If they pull through to the second round, which immediately precedes the group stage, Enyimba will challenge the winners of the tie between Sudan’s Al-Hilal Omdurman and Rayon Sports FC of Rwanda. Kano Pillars will go up against either Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel or Hafia FC of Guinea.

The first leg of the second round is scheduled for September 13 to 15 and the reverse fixtures two weeks after.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Rangers go straight into the second round to take on the winners of the first round between AS Pélican of Gabon and DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union.

For Niger Tornadoes, who will play the final of the Aiteo Cup at the weekend against Kano Pillars, their return to the continent for the first time since 2001 will see them challenge Santoba FC of Guinea in the first round with the first leg a home fixture.

If they go through, Tornadoes will have Ivorien side FC San Pédro to contend with in the second round, the first leg also holding at home.

Nigerian clubs have failed to make impact in the continent in the last seven years resulting in the country’s quota reduced to one team each in the last edition of the two club competitions.

Since Enyimba won the elite club competition back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, the best outing was semifinal final showing by Sunshine Stars in 2012 where eventual champions Al-Ahly of Egypt triumphed 4-3 aggregate.

In the Confederation Cup, Enyimba got to the last four in 2018 where Morococo’s Raja Casablanca stopped them 3-1 aggregate.

The full fixtures…

2019/20 CAF Champions League (First round first leg):

Rahimo FC (Burkina Faso) v Enyimba (Nigeria)
Kano Pillars (Nigeria) v Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda) v Al-Hilal (Sudan)
Hafia FC (Guinea) v Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
Brikama United (Gambia) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
AS Tempête Mocaf (Central African Republic) v Al-Nasr SC (Libya)
JS Kabylie (Algeria) v Al-Merrikh SC (Sudan)
Stade Malien (Mali) v Horoya (Guinea)
Buffles du Borgou (Benin Republic) v ASC Kara (Togo)
UMS de Loum (Cameroon) v AS Vita Club (DR Congo)
AS SONIDEP (Niger) v USM Alger (Algeria)
Aigle Noir (Burundi) v Gor Mahia (Kenya)
Atlabara FC (South Sudan) v Egypt1 (Egypt)
Cano Sport Academy (Equatorial Guinea) v Mekelle 70 Enderta (Ethiopia)
Dekedaha FC (Somalia) v Egypt2 (Egypt)
LPRC Oilers (Liberia) v Génération Foot (Senegal)
Africa Stars FC (Namibia) v KCCA (Uganda)
Matlama FC (Lesotho) v Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Fomboni FC (Comoros Islands) v Côte d’Or (Seychelles)
AS Otôho (Congo Republic) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
SO de l’Armée (Côte d’Ivoire) v FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
Cercle Mbéri Sportif (Gabon) v Elect-Sport FC (Chad Republic)
Green Mamba (Eswatini) v ZESCO United (Zambia)
Young Africans SC (Tanzania) v Township Rollers (Botswana)
Big Bullets FC (Malawi) v FC Platinum (Zimbabwe)
UD Songo (Mozambique) v Simba SC (Tanzania),
KMKM (Zanzibar) v 1º de Agosto (Angola)
Green Eagles (Zambia) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Fosa Juniors FC (Madagascar) v Pamplemousses (Mauritius)

2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup (First round first leg):

Niger Tornadoes (Nigeria) v Santoba FC (Guinea)
AS Pélican (Gabon) v AS Maniema Union (DR Congo)
ASC SNIM(Mauritania) v ESAE (Benin Republic)
US GN (Niger Republic) v Al-Ittihad SC (Libya)
Maranatha FC (Togo) v LISCR FC (Liberia)
Paradou AC (Algeria) v CI Kamsar(Guinea)
Roche-Bois Bolton City (Mauritius) v Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana)
Mogadishu City Club (Somalia) v Malindi SC (Zanzibar)
Akonangui FC (Equatorial Guinea) v Ashanti Gold SC (Ghana)
TS Galaxy FC (South Africa) v Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles)
Buildcon FC (Zambia) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
Arta/Solar7 (Djibouti) v Al Khartoum SC (Sudan)
DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) v Stade Renard de Melong (Cameroon)
AS Kigali (Rwanda) v KMC (Tanzania)
Proline FC (Uganda) v Masters Security FC (Malawi)
Bandari FC (Kenya) v Al-Ahly Shendi (Sudan)
US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia) v Amarat United (South Sudan)
Fasil Kenema SC (Ethiopia) v Azam FC (Tanzania)
Triangle United (Zimbabwe) v Rukinzo FC Burundi)
Egypt2 (Egypt) v Étoile du Congo (Congo Republic)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) v AS CotonTchad (Chad Republic)

First leg: August 9 – 11, 2019

Second leg: August 23 – 25, 2019

2019/20 CAF Champions League (Second Round 1st leg):

Enyimba (Nigeria)/Rahimo FC (Burkina Faso) v Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda)/Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

Asante Kotoko (Ghana)/Kano Pillars (Nigeria) v Hafia FC (Guinea)/Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

AS Tempête Mocaf (Central African Republic)/Al-Nasr SC (Libya) v Brikama United(Gambia)/Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

JS Kabylie (Algeria)/Al-Merrikh SC (Sudan) v Stade Malien (Mali)/Horoya (Guinea)

Buffles du Borgou (Benin Republic)/ASC Kara(Togo) v UMS de Loum (Cameroon)/AS Vita Club (DR Congo)

AS SONIDEP (Niger)/USM Alger (Algeria) v Aigle Noir (Burundi)/Gor Mahia (Kenya)

Cano Sport Academy (Equatorial Guinea)/Mekelle 70 Enderta (Ethiopia) v Atlabara FC (South Sudan)/Egypt1 (Egypt)

LPRC Oilers (Liberia)/Génération Foot (Senegal) v Dekedaha FC (Somalia)/Egypt2 (Egypt)

Matlama FC (Lesotho)/Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Africa Stars FC (Namibia)/KCCA (Uganda)

Fomboni FC (Comoros Islands)/Côte d’Or(Seychelles) v AS Otôho (Congo Republic)/Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

SO de l’Armée (Côte d’Ivoire)/FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) v Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Cercle Mbéri Sportif (Gabon)/Elect-Sport FC (Chad Republic) v Espérance (Tunisia)

Young Africans SC (Tanzania)/Township Rollers (Botswana) v Green Mamba (Eswatini)/ZESCO United (Zambia)

Big Bullets FC (Malawi)/FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) v UD Songo (Mozambique)/Simba SC (Tanzania)

Green Eagles (Zambia)/Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v KMKM (Zanzibar)/1º de Agosto (Angola)

Fosa Juniors FC (Madagascar)/Pamplemousses (Mauritius) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup (Second round first leg):

AS Pélican (Gabon)/AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) v Rangers (Nigeria)

Niger Tornadoes (Nigeria)/Santoba FC (Guinea) v FC San Pédro (Côte d’Ivoire)

ASC SNIM (Mauritania)/ESAE (Benin Republic) v Salitas SC (Burkina Faso)

US GN (Niger Republic)/Al-Ittihad SC (Libya) v Hassania Agadir (Morocco)

Maranatha FC (Togo)/LISCR FC (Liberia) v Djoliba SC (Mali)

Paradou AC (Algeria)/CI Kamsar (Guinea) v CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Roche-Bois Bolton City (Mauritius)/Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana) v Zanaco FC (Zambia)

Mogadishu City Club (Somalia)/Malindi SC (Zanzibar) Egypt1 (Egypt)

Akonangui FC (Equatorial Guinea)/Ashanti Gold SC (Ghana) v RS Berkane (Morocco)

TS Galaxy FC (South Africa)/Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles) v CNaPS Sport (Madagascar)

Buildcon FC (Zambia)/Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) v Bidvest Wits (South Africa)

Arta/Solar7 (Djibouti)/Al Khartoum SC (Sudan) v DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)/Stade Renard de Melong (Cameroon)

AS Kigali (Rwanda)/KMC (Tanzania) v Proline FC (Uganda)/Masters Security FC (Malawi)

Bandari FC (Kenya)/Al-Ahly Shendi (Sudan) v US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia)/Amarat United (South Sudan)

Fasil Kenema SC (Ethiopia)/Azam FC (Tanzania) v Triangle United (Zimbabwe)/Rukinzo FC (Burundi)

Egypt2 (Egypt)/Étoile du Congo (Congo Republic) v CR Belouizdad (Algeria)/AS CotonTchad (Chad Republic)

First leg: September 13 – 15, 2019

Second leg: September 27 – 29, 2019

CAF Champions League

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

3 days 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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