CAF Champions League
FIRE BRIGADE ALARM MAY SOUND IN MEMORY OF IWUANYANWU NATIONALE AIR CRASH VICTIMS
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
At the hour of six on Wednesday, a fire brigade alarm is expected to sound. This is planned to be a symbolic memorial for the five victims of the Oriental Airlines that crashed into a fire brigade building in Algeria about that hour 25 years ago.
The ill-fated flight of September 18, 1994 had players and officials of
the then Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland of Owerri) who were in quest for
continental honours.
The distasteful event of an air crash involving the Zambian World Cup squad in the previous year was sadly re-enacted.
Sports Village Square recalled that they became the eighth notable football squad to have been involved in an air disaster.
Memories of the crashes involving the Zambian national team in 1993, Peruvian champions, Alianza Lima in 1988, Soviet’s Pakhtakor Tashkent club in 1979, the Strongest FC of Bolivia in 1969, Chile’s Green Cross in 1961, England’s Manchester United in 1958 and Italy’s Torino in 1949 came flooding back.
The Nigerian champions, Iwuanyanwu Nationale were returning from Tunisia where they had lost 3-0 to Esperance in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Champions (now CAF Champions League).
Defeated and deflated, the 35 players, officials and journalists were obviously in low spirit. Beyond the defeat and the thought of the herculean task ahead, the contingent had to contend with a three-hour delay at the Tunis Airport.
When the chartered BAC 1-11 of the Oriental Airlines, owned by the club proprietor, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, eventually took off, it had to contend with early morning fog of the Sahara Desert region.
So bad was the situation that the plane had to make an emergency landing at Agenat Airport, Tamanrasset in Algerian Southern border with Niger Republic.
In doing so, it crashed into a pole, then a lorry and finally into a fire station building. The aircraft had circled in the airspace for almost three hours. After a mighty explosion, the aircraft came to a halt.
From the bowel of the badly mangled aircraft came 30 passengers alive. Incredible! Some were seriously wounded. But five, among them, two players, died.
The dead players were midfielder, Eghomwanre ‘Omale’ Aimanmwosa, and goalkeeper
Uche Ikeogu.
Also dead were the pilot who was
identified as Captain Amaechi; the co-pilot, Captain Chinedu Ogbonna and an air
steward, Obiageli Ezeh.
Badly injured were Okon Ating and 20 others. Among the lucky survivors are former Nigerian skipper, Christian Chukwu, former National Sports Commission director, Steve Olarinoye and Bola Oyeyode of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The dead Eghomwanre ‘Omale’ Aimanmwosa was said to be asleep at the time the aircraft crashed into the fire station building of the airport.
He was spread across three seats of the aircraft and got trapped as part of the fire station building collapsed on him.
He had joined the club after a brief spell at Bendel Insurance and Lagos Julius Berger.
Uche Ikeogu was a reserve goalkeeper in 1985 Flying Eagles squad and joined Iwuanyanwu in the l980s before transferring to Plateau United and later Rangers. He returned to the Iwuanyanwu fold at the start of 1994 season.
The toll left the club seriously handicapped for its return leg of the Cup Championship.
In spite of a two-week postponement granted by CAF at the instance of the Nigerian club, Iwuanyanwu Nationale could not survive the herculean task of overturning a three-goal deficit. They struggled to a 1-1 draw.
One of the survivors of the crash, Anthony Nwaigwe has told Alternativeafrica.com in London that ex team mates of the victims of the tragedy plan to mark the 25 years of the accident in honour of their departed colleagues and celebrate the founder, who gave his all for the team.
Solomon Onu, the Director of Media and Communications at Heartland FC informed www.sportsvillagesqure.com of plans of the club to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the crash.
He remarked that the General Manager of the club, Chief Chukwudi Ifeanyi deemed it fit to commemorate the memories of the fallen heroes.
He reportedly told the former Iwuanyanwu Nationale players, of the club ‘s support and called for a symbiotic relationship between the club and its former players
One of those to be honoured on Wednesday is Elder Iheancho, a medic who was among the survivors of the air crash.
According to a publication in alternativeafrica.com in London, informed that a ceremonial match by some former players would be played from 6am to 6.30 to mark the approximate time of the plane crash.
But the official information from the club states that the memorial activity will commence with a candle light procession by 8am at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. The procession is planed to end at Mr Fans Place.
CAF Champions League
Brazil’s Ribeiro Costa Gone, Rivalry Renewed: Mamelodi Sundowns Reshape Squad Before Remo Stars Showdown
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Mamelodi’s talismanic Brazilian player, Lucas Ribeiro Costa has made a sudden departure from the club which is well known for its Brazil-styled football attire. The departure of the player has forced a tactical reset at Sundowns ahead of the CAF Champions League second round clash with Remo Stars.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s champions, Remo Stars, are bracing up for a titanic CAF Champions League second-round showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa — a fixture that not only promises fireworks on the pitch but also rekindles one of African football’s most intense rivalries.
The first leg of the tie will take place in Abeokuta, the temporary home ground of Remo Stars with the return fixture scheduled for South Africa.
Sundowns, are continental heavyweights — former African champions and perennial campaigners known for their fluid attacking football.
However, the South Africans will enter this contest amid tactical reshuffling following the shock departure of Ribeiro, their Brazilian talisman and last season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Year.
New coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the impact of Ribeiro’s exit but insists the Tshwane-based side are evolving into a more unified team rather than relying on individual brilliance.
“No player will replace Lucas because that’s not what we are looking for,” Cardoso told reporters after Sundowns’ first league loss of the season.
“We are looking to reinforce the team and make it completely different. Ribeiro was unique, but now we must play more as a collective.”
Cardoso revealed that Sundowns have recruited Portuguese playmaker Nuno Santos from Vitória Guimarães and are closing in on another Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Reisinho, to enhance their creative options.
Despite this transition phase, the South African champions remain formidable, boasting one of the continent’s most technically balanced squads. Their clash with Nigeria’s Remo Stars — debutants in this elite stage — offers a fascinating contrast between experience and ambition.
Beyond the football itself, the fixture taps into a storied Nigeria–South Africa rivalry that has shaped African football narratives for decades — from national team duels at the Africa Cup of Nations to club-level battles in CAF competitions.
Matches between sides from both nations have often been fierce, emotionally charged, and symbolic of continental supremacy.
For Remo Stars, this encounter represents both a massive test and an opportunity to make a statement.
The Ikenne-based side, known for their youthful energy and tactical discipline, will aim to upset the odds against one of Africa’s richest and most accomplished clubs.
Their head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, is expected to lean on the attacking prowess of Adams Olamilekan and the creativity of Ebuka Anthony to breach Sundowns’ disciplined defence.
With pride, prestige, and progression on the line, all eyes will be on the two legs of this Nigeria–South Africa contest — a battle that goes beyond footballing tactics to touch the nerve of a continental rivalry steeped in passion and history.
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Rivers United have advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after defeating Les Aigles of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1–0 in the return leg on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Following a goalless stalemate in the first leg in Kinshasa, the Nigerian side sealed progression on a 1–0 aggregate scoreline, thanks to a first-half strike that proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
The win sends Rivers United into the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner of the tie between AC Léopards of Congo and Black Bulls of Mozambique.
With this result, Rivers United join Remo Stars in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
The next round is scheduled to hold between October 17 and 26, while the group stage kicks off in November
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Remo Stars have sealed their passage into the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after edging Comoros’ US Zilimadjou 1–0 in Abeokuta on Friday, completing an emphatic 5–0 aggregate victory.
Forward Alex Oyowah struck the decisive goal in the 74th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot to settle the return leg at the MKO Abiola International Stadium.
With a four-goal cushion from the first leg in – courtesy of strikes from Lamine Ndenge, Ebuka Anthony, Adams Goïta and Seun Olasupo – coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s side approached the second leg tie with composure and tactical discipline.
Despite Zilimadjou’s spirited attempt to salvage pride, Remo Stars’ organisation off the ball ensured the visitors rarely threatened.
The Sky Blue Stars grew in confidence as the game wore on, controlling possession and protecting their clean sheet before Oyowah’s late strike put the result beyond doubt.
The Nigerian side will now brace for a tougher test in October when they meet South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in what promises to be one of the glamour fixtures of the next round.
Other return-leg fixtures across the continent are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with the full line-up for the second preliminary round to be confirmed thereafter.
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