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).
Nigeria’s flagbearers, Remo Stars, have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after suffering another defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who completed a 7–1 aggregate rout on Sunday afternoon in Pretoria.
The outcome was never really in doubt following the Nigerian champions’ 1–5 loss at home in the first leg in Ikenne last week. The return fixture at Loftus Versfeld Stadium only confirmed the inevitable, as the reigning South African champions sealed qualification to the lucrative group stage with a routine 2–0 win.
Goals from Portuguese forward Nuno Santos in the 20th minute and Namibian talisman Peter Shalulile just before halftime ensured that the “Brazilians,” as Sundowns are fondly called, advanced with ease. The result left Remo Stars outclassed and out of Africa’s elite competition at the second qualifying hurdle.
Despite resting several first-team players, coach Miguel Cardoso’s men showed their depth and intent, dominating proceedings from start to finish. Captain Ronwen Williams and veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango anchored a disciplined backline, while Shalulile’s strike underlined his lethal form and cemented his reputation as one of the continent’s most consistent scorers.
Remo Stars made some attacking forays in the second half, but their efforts lacked precision and composure in the final third. The defeat, though painful, marks another learning curve for the Ikenne-based side in only their second appearance in continental competition.
With fellow South African club Orlando Pirates failing to reach the group stage, Sundowns will now fly their country’s flag alone as they aim for another deep run in the tournament, having finished as runners-up last season.
The draw for the CAF Champions’ League group stage will be held next Monday in Johannesburg, where other African heavyweights will be hoping to avoid a date with the free-scoring Sundowns.
For Remo Stars, attention will now turn to the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs — a second chance to continue their continental adventure.
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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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CAF Champions League
Rivers Flow into CAF Champions’ League Group Stage as First Nigerian Team in Nine Years
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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