CAF Champions League
MAKE OR BREAK FOR ASANTE KOTOKO AGAINST KANO PILLARS
Former winners Asante Kotoko will be hoping to count on their two away goals to overturn a 3-2 loss to Kano Pillars in the first leg of the preliminary round clash of the CAF Champions League at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Playing in front of their teeming fans on Sunday, the clarion call is to give Pillars a taste of their own medicine and seek qualification to the next stage of the premier continental club competition.
It will be a time the players are expected to prove their worth and clout in continental competitions, having featured in the CAF Confederation Cup last season where they exited at the group stage.
All eyes will be on head coach Kjetil Zachariassen who mentioned after the first leg, mentioned that they deserved something from the game, but was sure of a flawless game in Kumasi.
“We did our best in the first game and I still believe that we should have picked at least a point. It was a very difficult game But that is in the past now.
“We have been very serious at training since we returned and the players are responding to the tactics,” the Norwegian said.
On his part, midfielder Habib Mohammed who played full throttle in the first leg has described the tie “make or break” for the Porcupine Warriors.
“Kano Pillars were a very hard nut to crack in the first leg. But we have reviewed the game and seen our lapses and theirs as well. So we are working on it at training with the hope that we will overturn that 3-2 scoreline on Sunday.”
“We managed to get two away goals and that will count for something after Sunday’s game”, the former Ashanti gold midfielder who is in his second season with Kotoko mentioned.
“We know the fans will be expecting us to do all we can to win the game and qualify to the next stage, and that is what we hope to achieve.
“This time, we have to be cautious in our approach and not to allow in any goals and make sure we ship in as many as possible. Our destiny lies in our hands and that it’s achievable, so Sunday”, he added.
Kano Pillars coach head coach, Ibrahim Musah has sounded a caution to the two-time African champions not to get carried away by their two away goals, but to brace up for what could be their toughest game yet, an action he believes will send Kotoko packing out of the Champions League.
“We are coming to Ghana to beat Asante Kotoko, the same way we did to Al Ahly SC in Egypt after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Sani Abacha stadium”, he mentioned in an interview with Kumasi based radio station, Nhyira FM.
Fixtures
Friday, 23 August 2019
- Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Atlabara (South Sudan) (4-0)
- KCCA (Uganda) vs African Stars (Namibia) (2-3)
- Cote d’Or (Seychelles) vs Fomboni (Comoros) (2-2)
Saturday, 24 August 2019
- Raja Athletic Club (Morocco) vs Brikama United (Gambia) (3-3)
- El Merreikh (Sudan) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria) (0-1)
- Zamalek (Egypt) vs Dekadaha (Somalia) (7-0)
- Generation Foot (Senegal) vs LPRC Oilers (Liberia) (0-1)
- Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs Hafia (Guinea) (1-2)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs AS Otoho (Congo) (1-2)
- Zesco United (Zambia) vs Green Mamba (Eswatini) (2-0)
- Township Rollers (Botswana) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (1-1)
- FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs Big Bullets (Malawi) (0-0)
- Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs KMKM (Zanzibar) (2-0)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs Green Eagles (Zambia) (0-1)
Sunday, 25 August 2019
- *El Nasr (Libya) vs Tempete Mocaf (Central African Republic) (0-1)
- Horoya (Guinea) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
- ASCK (Togo) vs Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
- AS Vita (Cameroon) vs UMS de Loum (Cameroon) (0-0)
- El Hilal (Sudan) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
- Enyimba (Nigeria) vs Rahimo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
- USM Alger (Algeria) vs SONIDEP (Niger) (2-1)
- Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Aigle Noir (Burundi) (0-0)
- Mekelle (Ethiopia) vs Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) (1-2)
- Asante Kotoko (Ghana) vs Kano Pillars (Nigeria) (2-3)
- Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Matlama (Lesotho)(2-0)
- Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs SOA (Cote d’Ivoire) (0-0)
- Elect Sport (Chad) vs CMS (Gabon) (0-0)
- Simba (Tanzania) vs UD Songo (0-0)
- Pamplemousses (Mauritius) vs Fosa Juniors (Madagascar (0-1)
*Match will be played in Cairo (Egypt)
– CAF
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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- 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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- 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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