Remo Stars head coach, Tiago Conde, says his team remains hopeful of pulling off a football miracle when they face African Football League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the second leg of their CAF Champions League second-round clash on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The Nigerian champions are staring at a near-impossible task after last Sunday’s 5–1 home defeat in Ikenne, meaning they would need to beat the South African giants 5–0 away to qualify for the lucrative group stage.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Conde insisted that his players are not in South Africa merely to make up the numbers.

“Now we’ll look to make the necessary corrections and improve — to be more efficient, more balanced, and better aligned with the demands of a true Champions League game,” he said.

Despite the heavy deficit, the Portuguese tactician remains defiant and optimistic.

“If my players and I were not prepared or believe that we can win and score five goals and go to the group stage, there is no point in being here,” Conde told Pan Africa Football.

“We trust and believe we can do it. Of course, it’s difficult, but we’ll also make it difficult for Mamelodi Sundowns to score another five goals. It’s 11 against 11 for 90 minutes — we know it’s hard work.”

Conde added that his team had worked on fixing their shortcomings from the first leg.

“What we prepared and want to do is what we tried to do in the first leg, though some things did not happen. Now we’re trying to correct those things and be more effective and balanced — that’s what a Champions League game demands.”

Remo Stars defender Ahmed Akinyele echoed his coach’s optimism, stressing that the team has learned from their mistakes and is ready to fight.

“Like the coach said, we’re here to compete with focus, determination, and the drive to do better than we did in the first leg. We’re ready to give our best and keep improving as a team.”

While overturning a four-goal deficit against one of Africa’s most dominant sides appears highly unlikely, Remo Stars’ spirit of defiance underscores their ambition to leave a mark, regardless of the outcome in Pretoria.

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Rivers United have made history by becoming the first Nigerian club since 2016 to qualify for the CAF Champions’ League group stage, following a commanding 3–1 victory over Mozambique’s Black Bulls on Saturday in Uyo.

The result saw the Pride of Rivers progress 3–2 on aggregate, overturning a 1–0 first-leg deficit suffered in Maputo last weekend.

Rivers United began with intent and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Wasiu Falolu opened the scoring to level the tie.

Their dominance continued, and just before half-time, Maclyn Biokpo converted from the penalty spot to make it 2–0, putting the Nigerian side ahead on aggregate.

However, the visitors reignited their hopes early in the second half as Moctar Diallo pulled one back for the Black Bulls — a goal that temporarily put pressure on the home side, who faced possible elimination via the away-goal rule.

Rivers United, undeterred, regained their rhythm and sealed victory in the 76th minute when Timothy Zachariah fired in a stunning effort to restore the two-goal cushion and secure a 3–1 win on the night.

The triumph marks a significant milestone for Nigerian club football, as Rivers United become the first team from the country to reach the Champions’ League group stage since Enyimba International achieved the feat nine years ago.

The Port Harcourt-based side will now await the draw for the group stage as they continue their quest for continental glory.

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By Kunle Solaja.

As the return leg of the CAF Champions League second-round tie between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Nigeria’s Remo Stars looms on Sunday, signs point to an uphill battle for the Nigerian champions.

With the reigning African Football League winners in commanding form, Remo Stars’ hopes of progressing to the lucrative group stage appear slim.

However, all may not be lost for the Ikenne-based side. Under the CAF competition regulations, elimination at this stage of the Champions League does not spell the end of continental engagement.

Article 15 of the CAF Champions League regulations stipulates that clubs ousted in the second round will automatically drop into the CAF Confederation Cup’s additional second round—a playoff stage that offers a route into the Confederation Cup group phase.

This means that, much like Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who face a qualification playoff in their 2026 World Cup campaign, Remo Stars will have another shot at continental football.

The club, making its second successive appearance in the CAF Champions League, will now look to regroup and push for redemption in the Confederation Cup, Africa’s second-tier competition.

Sunday’s decisive clash in Pretoria will determine whether Remo Stars extend their Champions League journey or shift focus to the Confederation Cup in their bid to sustain Nigeria’s presence in continental club football.

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