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