CAF Champions League
LOBI STARS FACE ASEC CHALLENGE IN ABIDJAN
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
The Matchday 2 of this season’s CAF Champions League hold this weekend with Nigeria’s representatives Lobi Stars away to ASEC Mimosas at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Saturday.
This season, ASEC Mimosas have kept clean sheets in four of their five Champions League fixtures and won all two matches on their 45,000 capacity ground located in Le Plateau district of the Ivorien economic capital.
Having lost their opening group match 2-5 in Casablanca to Wydad, the Ivorien champions will like to make amends by not conceding ground to their Nigerian guests.
ASEC’s only ultimate triumph in this competition was in 1998 when they beat Zimbabwe’s Dynamos FC 4-2 aggregate in the final.
Lobi Stars will have to tighten their defence particularly in the first half, the period their hosts had scored in all their home fixtures, and also be on the watch out for Abdoul Tapsoba, ASEC’s goal poacher with two goals in five matches.
The Pride of Benue, as Lobi Stars are fondly called, started the group campaign on a winning note by dispatching South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Enugu.
They will therefore be seeking to consolidate on that stride ahead of their back-to-back matches against group top seed Wydad Casablanca.
But ASEC wouldn’t like to suffer yet another defeat so soon.
“We know ASEC are a very good side and we can’t judge them with the loss against Wydad,” Lobi Stars’ new recruit from Enyimba, Oluwadamilare Ojo told CAFOnline.com. The midfielder was the man-of-the match against Mamelodi Sundowns.
“Though we respect ASEC because of their pedigree and being former winner of the CAF Champions League, we would ensure we return Abidjan with a positive result.”
Lobi will hope that Sikiru Alimi will be in his elements. He converted three of the team’s seven goals in the campaign.
They will however miss the services of John Lawrence who will be serving a two-match suspension as a result of his involvement in an incident last December in Kenya when Lobi Stars faced Gor Mahia.
CAF Disciplinary Council also fined Lobi Stars $1,500 for the player’s action and pitch invasion as well as crowd incitement.
Coach Solomon Ogbeide believes his squad can change their underdog status in the competition. “We haven’t won anything yet but we can now build on the victory against Mamelodi Sundowns to focus on the game against ASEC.
“We have a good spirit; and remains positive going for the game, and we are going to take the game to them in Abidjan,” Ogbeide assured.
Saturday’s game will be the first time ASEC Mimosas and Lobi Stars will be playing in all competitions.
In the other fixture of the group, Mamelodi Sundowns play host to Wydad Casablanca at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, also on Saturday.
In the Confederation Cup, Rangers have their date on Sunday against Lesotho’s Bantu FC, who they beat away 2-1 in the first leg.
The Flying Antelopes will be expected to finish the job at home to qualify for the group stage where 16 teams will be paired into four sections.
2018/19 CAF Champions League (Group stage)
Matchday 2 fixtures
Friday…
Group B:
- Espérance (Tunisia) v FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) (2pm)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v Horoya (Guinea) (5pm)
Group C:
- Ismaily (Egypt) v Club Africain (Tunisia) (5pm)
Group D:
- JS Saoura (Algeria) v Al-Ahly (Egypt) (8pm)
Saturday…
Group A:
- ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v Lobi Stars (Nigeria) (5pm)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) (8pm)
Group D:
- AS Vita Club (DR Congo) v Simba (Tanzania) (5pm)
Group C:
- CS Constantine (Algeria) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo) (8pm)
2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff second leg):
- Mukura Victory Sports (Rwanda) v Al-Hilal (Sudan)
- (first leg Al-Hilal Omdurman 3-0) (2:30pm)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Stade Malien (Mali) (first leg 1-1) (4pm)
- Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) v Al-Nasr (Libya) (first leg Al-Nasr 1-0) (5pm)
- NA Hussein Dey (Algeria) v Al-Ahly Benghazi (Libya)
- (first leg Al-Ahly Benghazi 1-0) (5:45pm)
- Zamalek (Egypt) v Ittihad Tanger (Morocco) (first leg 0-0) (6pm)
- Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) v ZESCO United (Zambia) (first leg ZESCO United 3-1)
- RS Berkane (Morocco) v ASC Diaraf (Senegal) (first leg) (first leg ASC Diaraf 2-0)
- Hassania Agadir (Morocco) v Jimma Aba Jifar (Ethiopia) (first leg Hassania Agadir 1-0) (8pm)
Sunday…
2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff second leg):
- Rangers (Nigeria) v Bantu FC (Lesotho) (first leg Rangers 2-1)
- Ashante Kotoko SC (Ghana) v Coton Sport (Cameroon) (first leg Ashante Kotoko SC 3-2) (both 4pm);
- KCCA (Uganda) v AS Otôho (Congo Republic) (first leg AS Otôho 3-0) (2pm)
- New Star FC (Cameroon) v Gor Mahia (Kenya)(first leg Gor Mahia 2-1) (3pm)
- FC San Pédro (Côte d’Ivoire) v Nkana (Zambia) (first leg Nkana 3-0) (5pm)
- Raja Casablanca (Morocco) v African Stars FC (Namibia) (first leg 1-1) (5pm)
- CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) v Vipers (Uganda) (first leg 0-0) (6pm)
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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