CAF Confederation Cup
FOR ENYIMBA, NO EASY DRAW IN CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
Enyimba have been given what many fans regarded as the easiest pairing in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals. But that is only a misconception if the performances of the other three group winners and their pedigree in the continent are taken into consideration.
Unlike Egypt’s Pyramids FC (Group A winners), RS Berkane (Group C winners) and Hassania Agadir (Group D winners), who all qualified straight for the continent’s second tier club competition, Horoya won their domestic league last season and therefore started their continental campaign in the elite CAF Champions League.
Horoya beat Mali’s Stade Malien at the preliminary stage of the Champions League but were unlucky against Algerian side JS Kabylie in the first round, and therefore dropped into the Confederation Cup.
In the just concluded group stage of the Confederation Cup, Horoya produced an unbeaten record, winning four of their six matches and sharing honours in the remaining two to garner 14 points.
They were only bettered on points by debutante Pyramids FC of Egypt, who won five games and lost one to pull 15 points.
Morocco’s pair of RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir topped their respective groups with just 11 points.
Again, the trio of Hassania Agadir, RS Berkane and Pyramids FC, all of whom Enyimba will miss in the quarterfinals, have no record that can match that of Horoya in Africa.
Hassania Agadir’s best performance was quarterfinal exit in this tournament last season, while they crashed out in the second round in 2003 and 2004.
RS Berkane qualified for a continental competition for the first time last season and travelled all the way to the final but were beaten by Zamalek via penalties, while Pyramids FC are having their first experience of continental tournament.
Horoya have been among Africa’s big boys in over four decades and won the then African Cup Winners Cup in 1978, in addition to semifinal showings in the same competition in 1979 and 1983.
In recent years, Horoya were quarterfinalists in the last two editions of the Champions League, in which they have posted nine appearances.
Enyimba have no doubt suffered a dip in form since the early 2000s when they were a force in the continent. Winners of the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004, the most decorated Nigerian club exited at the group stage in the next two editions but advanced to the semifinal in 2008 and 2011.
When they returned to that competition three years later, Enyimba were stopped in the first round and got eliminated at the group stage in 2016.
The People’s Elephant have not done well in the Confederation Cup. Semifinalists in 2018, their only other showing was a Round of 16 exit in 2010.
Horoya are not new to Nigerian clubs. Among their victims in their 1978 triumph in the African Cup Winners Cup were 1976 winners Shooting Stars, who they eliminated 3-4 aggregate in the first round.
Horoya however got beaten by Leventis United in the 1985 edition of the African Cup Winners Cup on away goal rule. That was after they had been walked over in the first round of the same competition by Rangers the previous year.
Enyimba will host Horoya in the first leg at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on March 1 with the reverse fixtures a week later.
If they pull through, Enyimba have either Al-Masry SC of Egypt) or Morocco’s RS Berkane to contend with in the last four.
The other quarterfinal pairing in the Confederation Cup are Zanaco FC (Zambia) versus Pyramids FC (Egypt) and Al-Nasr SC (Libya) versus Hassania Agadir (Morocco).
The draw for the Champions League quarterfinals have title holders Espérance being challenged by Zamalek with the Egyptian side hosting the first leg.
Others are: Al-Ahly (Egypt) versus Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Raja Casablanca (Morocco) versus TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) versus Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia).
Moroccan side, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane secured a third continental title after drawing against Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club (2-0 in the first leg, 1-1 in the return).
Moroccan football’s representatives had the privilege of being the first to lift the new CAF trophy.
It is the fifth time they have played the final match of the competition, and they were successful in 2020 and 2022. In the return leg of the final match this Sunday, Berkane overcame challenges put in their way ahead of the match at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match got off to a flying start, with the hosts dominating, determined to open the scoring in the opening minutes of play. Once again, Berkane retreated into defence, a far cry from the spirit displayed in the first leg.
It took about fifteen minutes for Mouine Chaâbani’s men to truly get into the game.
While they launched their first dangerous attack, a missed opportunity in front of the opposing goal cost them dearly. On the ensuing counterattack, Simba’s Zambian striker, Joshua Mutale, beat goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi in the 17th minute.
The second half resumed with the same intensity, but the tension rose, especially after Simba attacking midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was sent off for a second yellow card.
Berkane then took a numerical advantage and regained control of the game.
Stung to the quick, the home side continued to engage in skirmishes, but without any real threat to goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Yet, even with ten men down, Simba’s players gave the Berkanis a hard time, posing several threats.
Deliverance finally came in the 93rd minute thanks to Mamadou Lamine Camara, who scored the equaliser, in a closely contested duel, in a packed stadium, and under the eyes of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, as well as Walid Regragui, national coach.
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RS Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani says his side is fully focused and prepared for Sunday’s second leg of the Confederation Cup final against Tanzania’s Simba SC, as they seek to secure a third continental title.
The Moroccan club takes a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar following an early double from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui in the first leg in Berkane.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash, Chaabani emphasized that his players have left nothing to chance.
“We are focused on the match, and we must adapt to all circumstances, no matter how difficult,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“We came here to play a 90-minute match, and there is no room for distraction.”
The Tunisian tactician, who led the team to last year’s final only to suffer defeat against Zamalek, underlined the hunger within the squad to go one step further this time.
“We have worked hard since that disappointment, and today we are even more determined to win the title and bring the cup back to Morocco.”
RS Berkane will be boosted by the availability of key players Haitham Manout and Paul Valery, although final decisions on their involvement will be made after the last training session.
“All players are present. The decision on their participation will depend on their readiness,” he added.
Chaabani also pointed to his side’s growing experience in navigating difficult African environments, saying they are mentally conditioned for the high-stakes occasion.
“We have a strong immune system to handle these conditions, and we will manage our physical effort according to the match’s progress,” he said.
“We hope to rise to the occasion and succeed in pleasing the Berkane fans, who always support us, to win the title.”
The return leg kicks off at 13:00 GMT on Sunday. A draw or even a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin will be enough for Berkane to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup trophy.
-CAF
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Following a 2-0 win for RS Berkane over Simba SC in the first leg of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in Berkane, Morocco, attention will turn to the return fixture on the island of Zanzibar this Sunday.
The match will be played at Amaan Stadium at 16h00 local time (13h00 GMT) and will be live across all CAF’s broadcast partners, including Azam Media, beIN Sport, Canal+, SuperSport, SABC and several other global platforms.
RS Berkane go to the second leg with the advantage after early goals from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui at home, but Simba SC have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this campaign and will be confident of overturning the deficit.
The winners of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup will be awarded a new trophy that will be unveiled later this week.
CAF and host club Simba SC are working closely together to ensure that the event in Zanzibar is a success.
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