CAF Confederation Cup
Rivers United On a Renaissance
BY SAMMY WEJINYA
Touted for big things after a sparkling victory over Malian club, AS Real Bamako in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, the ‘Pride of Rivers’ made Nigerians believe they could dare to dream.
Comparisons were even drawn with the legendary Enyimba sides of 2003 and 2004 after United tore the form books to shreds by outclassing Sudanese giants, Al Merreikh 3-0 in the first leg of their first round CAF Champions League clash in Port Harcourt.
Then came implosion as the wheels came off spectacularly for the Nigerian flag bearers in Africa’s elite club competition.
In a cauldron of hate and noise (the Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman), United’s stars failed to deal with the pressure of playing in front of over 70,000 vociferous Al Merreikh fans as they suffered a 0-4 reverse.
The dream was over; heads dropped as many were left to ponder what might have been.
Confidence levels were at their lowest ebb and Rivers United was in free fall with the nadir exemplified by three consecutive defeats in domestic competition (against MFM, Enyimba and Gombe United); the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Then came the revival as the Port Harcourt club sought to rise from the ashes, like the proverbial Phoenix, in all its glory with hard-fought but extremely crucial league wins against ABS FC and Abia Warriors.
Technical manager of United, Azunda Stanley Eguma smiled like the cat that ate the canary as he took the time to review the wins which seemingly set things up quite nicely ahead of Sunday’s big game against Rayon Sports.
“We have suffered so much in the past months but as an extremely experienced coach, I know that football is like life; it is full of ups and downs.
“It is important to finally get back to winning ways as it helps build confidence.
“Now, we will (ride on that momentum) and try to get a good result against Rayon Sports who are a very good side,” he told the club’s official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
How will Rayon play in Port Harcourt? Rayon Sports Football Club (nicknamed Gikundiro) is the second most successful football club in Rwanda, after Army club, APR who have 16 league titles to their name.
The Nyanza club (Rayon Sports FC) have claimed seven league titles and are poised to collect an eighth as they are currently runaway leaders in this season’s Rwanda National Football League.
Gikunduro have lost just once in their first 22 games of the season are currently 11 points clear of second-placed bitter rivals, APR.
Rayon Sports, a fluid-playing, attack-minded side is largely built around three players; striker, Nshuti Dominique Savio, midfielder, Moussa Camara and playmaker extraordinaire, Pierrot Kwizera who is from Burundi.
Pierrot is the heart and soul of the side; the midfield anchor on who most of the positive play of the side is anchored.
His vision, low centre of gravity, silky touches and quickness of thought makes him slippery as an eel and almost impossible to mark.
Savio is a speed star and poacher of deadly efficiency while Camara is capable of moments of magic.
Rayon are also extremely dangerous from set pieces and the United players will be wise to avoid giving away free kicks in and around their penalty area.
Head coach of Rayon Sports, Masudi Djuma is optimistic of his side’s progress to the group stage but the Burundian tactician knows the importance of claiming a positive result in the first leg in Port Harcourt.
“It is a very big game for us. We are in Nigeria to try to get a draw at least.
“We know a draw is going to help us (in our quest to reach the group stages) by the time we play the second leg in Rwanda.
“Actually, we want to win but even a draw will help us in the second leg.
“Rivers United, I agree, are not doing well domestically but no two games are the same.
“The Confederation Cup is a completely different competition from the Nigerian league.
“Rivers can lift their game on Sunday and surprise everyone. We cannot think too much against Rivers United’s poor form in their league (the Nigeria Professional Football League) because it will be a fatal mistake.
“An example is Leicester City in England; they are not doing well in the Premier League but have reached the quarter final of the Uefa Champions League.
“They (Leicester City) beat Sevilla from Spain and Sevilla is a very good team that played very well (in both legs of the round of 16 tie).
“Positions in the domestic league is not important; what is important is concentration, determination and setting clear the objective you want to achieve on the day,” he said.
On Sunday, two sides with slightly contrasting football philosophies will clash at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt with the objective of reaching the group stage of Africa’s second-tier club competition. Clearly, something has to give.
CAF Confederation Cup
Shooting Stars, Ikorodu City, in Winner-Takes-All Quest for Confederation Cup ticket
By Kunle Solaja.
The battle for the Nigeria Premier Football League’s remaining CAF Confederation Cup ticket will go down to the wire on the final day of the season, with Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City locked in a tense race for third place.
While title contenders, Enugu Rangers International and Rivers United, have already secured Nigeria’s slots in next season’s CAF Champions League, the contest for the Confederation Cup place remains delicately poised.
Shooting Stars currently occupy third position with 60 points, holding a narrow two-point advantage over fourth-placed Ikorodu City, who sit on 58 points ahead of the 24 May decisive fixtures.
The Ibadan side is in pole position and needs only to avoid defeat away to Niger Tornadoes to confirm a return to continental football next season.
However, Ikorodu City still has a fighting chance of snatching the ticket.
The Lagos-based club must defeat title-chasing Rangers and hope Shooting Stars stumble against Niger Tornadoes to overturn the deficit and leapfrog the Oluyole Warriors into third place.
Their clash against Rangers is expected to rank among the standout fixtures of the final day, with both teams carrying huge ambitions into the encounter.
For Ikorodu City, the situation revives painful memories from last season when they chased a continental ticket from two fronts but ended up empty-handed.
The club narrowly missed out on third place after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to eventual champions Remo Stars in Ikenne on the final day, despite taking the lead in the encounter. The result pushed them down to fourth position.
Their hopes of reaching the continent through the Federation Cup also ended in heartbreak after a penalty shootout loss to Abakaliki FC in the semi-finals following a goalless draw.
Now, with another opportunity within reach, Ikorodu City will hope fortune finally smiles on them as they seek what would be a historic continental qualification.
With the title race, continental qualification battle, and survival struggles all still unresolved, the final day of the NPFL season is set to deliver tension and drama across the country.
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Hosts USM Alger converted a controversial stoppage-time penalty to edge Egyptian giants Zamalek 1-0 in Saturday’s first leg of the African Confederation Cup final at the Stade du 5 Juillet in the Algerian capital Algiers.
Ahmed Khaldi converted the spot kick after Zamalek thought they had snatched a late winner through Brazilian substitute Juan Alvina, who ran half the length of the pitch to tuck away a superb individual effort.
But the strike was ruled out, and play was brought back for a foul in the build-up when VAR found Hossam Abdelmaguid had caught Rayane Mahrouz with a knee in the back.
Early in the second half, Zamalek’s Angolan import Chico Banza had a looping effort over USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbot cleared off the line by defender Hocine Dehiri
USMA enjoyed fervent support but will now be up against it in Cairo when Zamalek host the second leg next Saturday.
Zamalek previously won the Confederation Cup in 2019 and 2024, while USMA were victors in 2023.
-Reuters
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Two of Africa’s most decorated clubs will renew their continental ambitions on Saturday when USM Alger host Zamalek SC in the first leg of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup final in Algiers.
The eagerly anticipated showdown at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 is expected to set the tone for what promises to be another fiercely contested final in Africa’s secondary club competition, with not only continental prestige at stake but also a record first prize of USD 4 million for the eventual winners.
USM Alger, champions in 2023, will be aiming to reclaim the title they won after edging Tanzania’s Young Africans on away goals in a dramatic two-legged final. The Algerian side booked their place in this season’s final through another tense away-goals triumph, eliminating Morocco’s Olympic Club Safi after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
For Zamalek, the final presents an opportunity to further cement their reputation as one of Africa’s elite clubs. The Egyptian giants lifted the Confederation Cup in 2019 and again in 2024, beating Morocco’s RS Berkane on both occasions after nail-biting aggregate scorelines.
The White Knights also had to navigate a difficult semi-final path this season, edging fellow Algerian side CR Belouizdad 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a crucial away victory inspired by Brazilian forward Juan Alvina.
Recent history suggests little will separate the two finalists. Several Confederation Cup finals in recent years have been decided on away goals or penalties, and another tight contest is widely expected over the two legs.
Saturday’s opening encounter in Algiers will be officiated by Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida, while Gabonese official Pierre Atcho will handle the decisive return leg in Cairo on 16 May.
With a passionate home crowd expected behind them, USM Alger will look to establish an advantage before travelling to the intimidating atmosphere of Cairo International Stadium for the second leg.
Zamalek, however, arrive with vast continental experience and a proven ability to thrive under pressure in away fixtures, setting the stage for a compelling battle between North African heavyweights.
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