CAF Champions League

ENYIMBA KNOW FATE IN CAF CONFEDERATION CUP DRAW

Published

5 years ago

February 5, 2020

BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE

The path to the final matches of both the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup will be drawn today at the October 6, satellite city to Cairo in Egypt.

Enyimba, Nigeria’s last team standing in international club competitions this season, will know their quarterfinal opponents and subsequent oppositions if they continue to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Nigeria entered four teams for the continent’s inter-club tournaments. Kano Pillars, last season’s runners-up in the topflight domestic league and Federation Cup winners, were eliminated at the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, while Niger Tornadoes, Federation Cup finalists, crashed out at the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Enyimba, who won the domestic league last season and were therefore registered for the elite Champions League, could not go beyond the first round as Sudan’s Al-Hilal triumphed 1-0 aggregate. The Nigerian champions thereafter continued their international journey from the play-off phase of the second-tier Confederation Cup.

The People’s Elephant joined Rangers in that competition and both of them made it to the group stage. Rangers had placed third in the domestic league last season to be registered for the Confederation Cup.

Rangers however left their chase for a quarterfinal place rather too late and could only end up as No 3 in Group A, while Enyimba were runners up in Group D.

Enyimba’s potential opponents in the quarterfinal will be drawn from a pool of two north African teams and a fellow West African opposition, namely Pyramids FC (Egypt), RS Berkane (Morocco) and Horoya (Guinea).

Cairo-based Pyramids eliminated more illustrious opponents in only their first time in the continent. If they are pitched against Enyimba, it will be the second trip to Nigeria for the Egyptian side who shocked Rangers 1-3 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Matchday 1 of the group stage. Although Rangers avenged themselves with a lone goal win in Cairo, that result was not enough to see the Flying Antelopes through to the last eight.

Berkane, who got to the final of this competition last season in their debut international outing, topped Group B this term, losing only to DR Congo’s Daring Club Motema Pembe by a lone goal. The Moroccan side had accounted for the exit of Ghananian club Ashanti Gold, and Fosa Juniors of Madagascar en-route the group phase.

Horoya, on their part, started this season in the Champions League, just like Enyimba. They defeated Mali’s Stade Malien 2-1 aggregate in the preliminary round. But the Guineans lost by penalty shootouts to JS Kabylie of Algeria in the first round to drop to the playoff round of the Confederation Cup where they beat Kenya’s Bandari FC 4-2 overall.

The 1978 African Cup Winners Cup champions then got pitched in Group C alongside Libya’s Al-Nasry, Djoliba of Mali and South Africa’s Bidvest Wits. Horoya won four and drew the remaining two of their matches to ease themselves into the quarterfinals.

The other teams in the CAF Confederation quarterfinals draw include Hassania Agadir, who topped Group D from where Enyimba emerged. There are also Al-Masry SC (Egypt), Zanaco FC (Zambia) and Al-Nasr SC (Libya), all group runners-up.

Enyimba’s qualification for the knockout stages as well as Rangers reaching the group stage of the Confederation Cup may save Nigeria from the experience of 2018 when the country’s entry for both the Champions League and Confederation was reduced from two to one team each.

In the 2017/18 season, for instance, Nigeria entered four teams – Plateau United and MFM for the Champions League, and Enyimba and Akwa United for the Confederation Cup – but only Enyimba reached the group stage.

Shooting Stars (1976), Rangers (1977) and BCC Lions (1990, also runners-up the following year) won the then African Cup Winners Cup, which evolved into the Confederation Cup with the merger of the CAF Cup in 2004.

Other Nigerian clubs that graced the final of either the CAF Confederation Cup or the African Cup Winners Cup included the now defunct Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt (2005), Julius Berger FC of Lagos (2003 and 1995), Esan FC (now Bendel Insurance) in 1989, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna (1988), Ibadan-based Leventis United (1985) and Stationery Stores of Lagos (1981).

Fixtures for the quarterfinals of this season’s CAF Champions League will also be unveiled. North Africa dominates the field having produced all but two of the teams that survived the group stage.

Challenging Tunisia’s Espérance for a third title on the bounce are record title holders Al-Ahly of Egypt, who have won it eight times. Both sides may go head-to-head as they are in separate pots and never met at the group stage.

Others TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Zamalek (Egypt), both five-time champions.

Also in the cast are Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Raja Casablanca (Morocco) and Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia), completing the list of past winners.

The first leg of the CAF Champions League will hold on February 28 and 29 with the reverse fixtures a week later.

In the Confederation Cup, the games will be on March 1 (first leg) and March 8 (second leg).

CAF Champions League

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

Published

12 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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

CAF Champions League

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

Published

12 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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H