CAF Confederation Cup
ENUGU RANGERS PROMISE TO BATTLE BANTU IN MASERU
Nigeria flagbearers Rangers International of Enugu remain resolute and positive ahead of their Total CAF Confederation Cup first leg Round of 1/16th away tie to Bantu FC of Lesotho to be played on Sunday at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.
The Flying Antelopes are unbeaten yet in this campaign and recorded good results away from Enugu in the previous rounds including that flattering 3-1 away win against Defence Force of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa as well as the gritty goalless draw in Algiers against USM Bel Abbes (USMBA).
Yet the West African side are not oblivious of the task ahead against battled-hardened Bantu FC who dropped into the Confederation Cup play-off despite some sturdy performances against Township Rollers FC of Botswana and AS Vital Club of Congo.
“Our fans should expect good football from us and by the way we are the training; and we shall have a good game,” explained Rangers’ winger Bright Silas who scored a brace in the 2-0 wins against USMBA to secure the berth into this round. “We don’t know much about them (Bantu FC) but we shall get the three points because we believe in ourselves.
“We are really motivated because the management (of Rangers) are putting things in order; we are also playing for ourselves; our families and friends; and we have to push ourselves to get good results.”
By the way, Rangers have bounced back from their dwindling fortune of previous years by winning the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title for the first time since 1983 and added the National Cup last October after 35-years’ period of interruption to secure ticket for their fifth campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Their best outing so far at this level was reaching the group stage in 2004 where they narrowly missed qualification for the final match after coming second behind Asante Kotoko. Last time, Rangers were bundled out in the play off stage as recent as 2017 following a 5-2 aggregate loss to Zesco of Zambia. But the club’s Ghanaian-born goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu believes their past experiences would stand the Flying Antelopes in good stead against Bantu FC.
“We want to take Rangers far (in this competition) and we need the support and prayers of our fans,” stated the 30-year-old stopper who reclaimed the club’s number one shirt after his heroics in the Nigeria national cup final October.
Meanwhile, the second leg of the encounter is fixed for the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu on the 20th January with the aggregate winners over the two legs automatically guaranteed a place in the mini-league group stage.
CAF Confederation Cup
‘Nzogbu Nzogbu’ Enyimba enyi as Enyimba limp into Confederation Cup Group stage!
It was not easy, but the end justified the means. Enyimba had to go through the lottery of penalty shoot-out to get into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday in Uyo after playing a barren draw with visiting Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso.
The first leg also ended goalless leading to penalty shoot-out as tie breaker. Enyimba won 3-2 on penalties.
CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba target victory after Solid Showing in Bamako
Enyimba FC head coach Yemi Olarenwaju has set his sights on securing a crucial victory in Sunday’s second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup tie against Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou.
His confidence is built on the goalless draw in the first leg in Bamako.
“The job is far from over, and we can’t afford to celebrate yet. The return leg in Uyo will be crucial,” Olarenwaju was quoted by the club’s website as saying.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board, work harder, and prepare for the challenge ahead.”
Olarenwaju praised his team’s tactical edge and discipline, which nullified the hosts’ attacking threats. “We had a clear game plan, and the players executed it perfectly. Our tactical discipline prevented Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou from creating any meaningful scoring opportunities.”
The Enyimba FC boss acknowledged the tough opposition but remains confident in his team’s ability to secure a win at home.
“Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou is a formidable opponent, but we have the quality and determination to get the job done in Uyo.”
As we look forward to the return leg, we urge all Enyimba FC fans to come out in their numbers and support the team at the Uyo Stadium. Let’s make our home advantage count and cheer the People’s Elephant to victory!
CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba’s midfielder, Daga confident of Confederation Cup group stage ticket
Enyimba’s midfielder, Daniel Daga, has pledged to lead club to victory against Etoile Filante in the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round on Sunday.
The People’s Elephant are looking to build on their impressive performance in the first leg, which ended in a goalless draw in Bamako, Mali. Despite creating several scoring opportunities, Enyimba were unable to find the back of the net.
However, Daga remains optimistic about their chances in the return leg having missed the first leg of the encounter due to a slight knock
“Our resolve is to win and advance to the group stages,” he stated confidently. “We understand that they are a difficult opponent, but we have just one task, which is to win, and that is exactly what we are going to do.”
A win for Enyimba FC would guarantee their spot in the group stages, a feat that would make them the only Nigerian team in the competition’s group phase.
“We know the importance of this match, and we’re ready to give it our all,” Daga added. “We want to make Nigeria proud and show that we’re a force to be reckoned with in African football.”
Head coach, Yemi Olarenwaju, has been fine-tuning his tactics, and the team is eager to execute their game plan.
“The first leg result gives us an advantage, but we won’t take anything for granted,” Olarenwaju said. “We’ll push for victory and secure our spot in the group stages.”
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