CAF Champions League
ENYIMBA KNOW FATE IN CAF CONFEDERATION CUP DRAW
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
Pyramids claim maiden African Champions League title

Egypt’s Pyramids claimed a deserved 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa. This led to a 3-2 aggregate success. They celebrated their first African Champions League title. This triumph occurred following the second leg of this year’s final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday.
The first leg in Pretoria finished 1-1. Fiston Mayele gave Pyramids the lead on 23 minutes. He profited from a Sundowns defensive error. Ahmed Samy doubled the advantage on 56 minutes. He scored with a header from a free-kick.
Sundowns pulled a goal back through Iqraam Rayners with 15 minutes remaining. One more goal would have given them victory in the tie on the away goals rule. However, Pyramids held firm despite heavy pressure from the visitors.
Pyramids are the fourth Egyptian side to lift the Champions League trophy after record 12-time winners Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. Meanwhile, 2016 champions Sundowns head to this month’s Club World Cup in the United States on a low note.
-Reuters
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CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League Final: Fact File on the Egyptian Pyramid


- 1. Pyramids aim to become the first new CAF Champions League winner since Sundowns (2016), the 13th in the modern era, and the 27th overall.
- 2. This is the 19th Champions League-era final featuring an Egyptian club. Previous teams (Al Ahly 10, Zamalek 1) have won 11 titles.
- 3. Including the pre-Champions League era, this is the 29th final for an Egyptian club, with 18 wins and 10 losses.
- 4. Pyramids have played only 1 of their last 9 matches at home but are unbeaten in their last 23 home games this season (W19 D4) and last 28 overall (W24 D4).
- 5. Pyramids scored in 22 of 23 home games this season; the only blank was a 0-0 draw vs Al Masry.
- 6.This season, they’ve won all 7 home matches, scoring 26 and conceding 6, with one clean sheet. In total, they’ve lost just 1 of 11 home matches in the competition.
- 7. Fiston Mayele leads with 8 goals in 12 matches (5 since group stage); Ibrahim Adel has 6 (also 5 post-group stage).
- 8. Ramadan Sobhi has 5 assists in 9 games (joint-most), plus 2 goals. He’s had major impact off the bench twice.
- 9. Askary Chibi has created 20 chances since the group stage — the most for Pyramids.
- 10. Pyramids have kept 3 clean sheets this season, all away, but remain dominant at home
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CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League Final: Fact File on Mamelodi Sundowns


- 1. Sundowns are in their third CAF Champions League final (2001, 2016, 2024).
- 2. South African Record: First South African club to reach three finals, surpassing Orlando Pirates (2).
- 3. Sundowns hosted the first leg in all three finals. In 2001, they drew 1-1 at home and lost 2-0 away to Al Ahly.
- 4. Sundowns beat Zamalek 3-0 at home, lost 1-0 away, and won 3-1 on aggregate.
- 5. Sundowns have never scored in an away leg of a Champions League final, conceding five in total.
- 6. The current final marks the second time Sundowns led at home and failed to win (also in 2001).
- 7. A defeat would make Sundowns the first South African side to lose two finals.
- 8. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 10 matches vs Egyptian opposition (4wins and 6 draws).
- 9. Sundowns are unbeaten in their last 4 visits to Egypt (2 wins and 2 draws).
- 10. A win would make Sundowns the first team since Al Ahly (2012) to win the title after failing to win the home leg.
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