CAF Champions League
Danger Signals for Nigerian Clubs at CAF Competitions
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League season 2016/17 may be the last to produce three continental competitors if the trio of Plateau United, MFM and Enyimba as well as the eventual winners of the AITEO Cup failed to make appreciable impact in the 2018 CAF inter clubs competitions.
For many years now, Nigeria along with 11 other countries whose leagues are rated among the top 12 in the continent have the privilege of fielding two clubs in each of CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
The top 12 are decided based on a five-year ranking conducted since 2004. CAF uses this to determine the number of clubs each affiliated national league association is eligible to enter in both Champions league and Confederation Cup for a particular term.
The 12 best ranked national league associations in Africa were privileged to field two clubs in both CAF Champions league and Confederation Cup. Sports Village Square has gathered that based on the current ranking which CAF has not officially released, the poor performances of Enugu Rangers, FC IfeanyiUbah, Nasarawa United and to some extent, Rivers United in the CAF inter clubs competitions this season, Nigeria is dangerously ranked 12th – the last of among countries that can have multiple entries.
While Nigeria slipped in the football leagues’ ranking in the continent, Zambia, for instance jumped six steps up the ladder from joint 14th to ninth. Nigeria remains stagnant at 12th.
It now means that Zambia will for the first time ever have four clubs in the continents at the same time.
Poor performance by the Nigerian clubs in the coming season may see the country dropping out of the top 12 and only the NPFL champion will then be eligible to feature in the CAF Champions League.
Egypt remains top of the ranking for the 2018 CAF football league season. The country, which teams have dominated the CAF competitions, has 85 points as against Nigeria’s laughable 13. Tunisia with 76 points ranks next while DR Congo follows with 70 points.
In addition, Sports Village Square gathered that South Africa’s Danny Jordan, a CAF executive committee member is pushing for the top leagues like Egypt, Tunisia DR Congo, Algeria and South Africa which are among the top five should henceforth have four clubs in each of the two CAF clubs’ competitions. In essence, while Nigerian league may produce just one continental campaigner, leagues of each of those countries will each have eight clubs.
This is following a pattern already established by UEFA which allocates multiple slots for top European leagues like the English Premiership, Spanish La Liga and the Bundesliga.
“As you can see for both Egypt and South Africa they (CAF) have allocated four places in the Champions League and that is on the basis that these teams are strong, thriving and truly professional teams,” a Zambian football blog, quoted Jordan as saying.
In the ranking of top 40 clubs in Africa, only two Nigerian clubs, Enyimba in the 21st position and Sunshine Stars of Akure (32nd) are listed.
CAF Inter-Clubs Ranking For 2018
| Rank | Associations | 2012 (× 1) |
2013 (× 2) |
2014 (× 3) |
2015 (× 4) |
2016 (× 5) |
Total
Points |
|||||
| CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | CL | CC | |||
| 1 | Egypt | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 85 |
| 2 | Tunisia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 76 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 |
| 4 | Algeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 62 |
| 5 | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 45 |
| 6 | Morocco | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 41 |
| 7 | Sudan | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 8 | Cote d’Ivoire | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 9 | Zambia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Congo | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 11 | Mali | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 12 | Nigeria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 13 | Cameroon | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 14 | Libya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 15 | Ghana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 16 | Tanzania | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 17 | Angola | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 18 | Ethiopia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
CAF Champions League
Brazil’s Ribeiro Costa Gone, Rivalry Renewed: Mamelodi Sundowns Reshape Squad Before Remo Stars Showdown
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Mamelodi’s talismanic Brazilian player, Lucas Ribeiro Costa has made a sudden departure from the club which is well known for its Brazil-styled football attire. The departure of the player has forced a tactical reset at Sundowns ahead of the CAF Champions League second round clash with Remo Stars.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s champions, Remo Stars, are bracing up for a titanic CAF Champions League second-round showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa — a fixture that not only promises fireworks on the pitch but also rekindles one of African football’s most intense rivalries.
The first leg of the tie will take place in Abeokuta, the temporary home ground of Remo Stars with the return fixture scheduled for South Africa.
Sundowns, are continental heavyweights — former African champions and perennial campaigners known for their fluid attacking football.
However, the South Africans will enter this contest amid tactical reshuffling following the shock departure of Ribeiro, their Brazilian talisman and last season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Year.
New coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the impact of Ribeiro’s exit but insists the Tshwane-based side are evolving into a more unified team rather than relying on individual brilliance.
“No player will replace Lucas because that’s not what we are looking for,” Cardoso told reporters after Sundowns’ first league loss of the season.
“We are looking to reinforce the team and make it completely different. Ribeiro was unique, but now we must play more as a collective.”
Cardoso revealed that Sundowns have recruited Portuguese playmaker Nuno Santos from Vitória Guimarães and are closing in on another Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Reisinho, to enhance their creative options.
Despite this transition phase, the South African champions remain formidable, boasting one of the continent’s most technically balanced squads. Their clash with Nigeria’s Remo Stars — debutants in this elite stage — offers a fascinating contrast between experience and ambition.
Beyond the football itself, the fixture taps into a storied Nigeria–South Africa rivalry that has shaped African football narratives for decades — from national team duels at the Africa Cup of Nations to club-level battles in CAF competitions.
Matches between sides from both nations have often been fierce, emotionally charged, and symbolic of continental supremacy.
For Remo Stars, this encounter represents both a massive test and an opportunity to make a statement.
The Ikenne-based side, known for their youthful energy and tactical discipline, will aim to upset the odds against one of Africa’s richest and most accomplished clubs.
Their head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, is expected to lean on the attacking prowess of Adams Olamilekan and the creativity of Ebuka Anthony to breach Sundowns’ disciplined defence.
With pride, prestige, and progression on the line, all eyes will be on the two legs of this Nigeria–South Africa contest — a battle that goes beyond footballing tactics to touch the nerve of a continental rivalry steeped in passion and history.
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Rivers United have advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after defeating Les Aigles of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1–0 in the return leg on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Following a goalless stalemate in the first leg in Kinshasa, the Nigerian side sealed progression on a 1–0 aggregate scoreline, thanks to a first-half strike that proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
The win sends Rivers United into the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner of the tie between AC Léopards of Congo and Black Bulls of Mozambique.
With this result, Rivers United join Remo Stars in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
The next round is scheduled to hold between October 17 and 26, while the group stage kicks off in November
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Remo Stars have sealed their passage into the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after edging Comoros’ US Zilimadjou 1–0 in Abeokuta on Friday, completing an emphatic 5–0 aggregate victory.
Forward Alex Oyowah struck the decisive goal in the 74th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot to settle the return leg at the MKO Abiola International Stadium.
With a four-goal cushion from the first leg in – courtesy of strikes from Lamine Ndenge, Ebuka Anthony, Adams Goïta and Seun Olasupo – coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s side approached the second leg tie with composure and tactical discipline.
Despite Zilimadjou’s spirited attempt to salvage pride, Remo Stars’ organisation off the ball ensured the visitors rarely threatened.
The Sky Blue Stars grew in confidence as the game wore on, controlling possession and protecting their clean sheet before Oyowah’s late strike put the result beyond doubt.
The Nigerian side will now brace for a tougher test in October when they meet South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in what promises to be one of the glamour fixtures of the next round.
Other return-leg fixtures across the continent are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with the full line-up for the second preliminary round to be confirmed thereafter.
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