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.
Zamalek commenced their CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 1-0 win over Kenya’s Police in the initial leg of the second preliminary round held in Nairobi this Saturday.
Veteran winger Abdallah El-Saied secured the win for the Whites with a precise strike from outside the box just a minute before halftime.
The Cairo giants, winners of the 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup title, started the match with relentless pressure on the hosts to clinch victory in the first leg and alleviate pressure before the upcoming return fixture in Cairo next Friday.
“The most important thing for us was to win and achieve our target,” Zamalek coach Gomes said after the game.
Hosts Police FC of Kenya could not breach Zamalek’s resolute defense in search of an equalizer.
Despite notable summer acquisitions, Zamalek’s coach Jose Gomes opted for a standard lineup, integrating young talents in lieu of seasoned players.
“We are now stronger than the previous season, thanks to spending more time with the team and preparing to play in the tournaments that we will participate in,” the Portuguese coach added.
Conversely, Kenya’s Police FC squandered a clear scoring opportunity against Zamalek, missing a crucial chance fifteen minutes before the final whistle, dashing hopes of leveling the score.
Kenya’s Police FC earned their place in this round following a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia Coffee SC.
-Ahram
Nigeria’s Enyimba played a thrilling 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round tie in Bamako on Friday.
There have been three previous confrontation with Burkina Faso teams and this Friday encounter was the second time that Enyimba had had to face Etoile Filante.
According to facts supplied by Opta Nigeria, Etoile Filante were Enyimba’s first ever opponent on the continent 22 years ago in March 2002. Ever since, Enyimba have played 157 times on the continent; the highest by any Nigerian club.
Enyimba carry their advantage to the return leg to be played on 22 September.
Nigeria’s sole survivors in the CAF Confederation Cup,Enyimba will face Burkina Faso sides, Etoile de Filante in the second round of the competition.
Enyimba drew bye in the preliminary round while the Burkina Faso team reached the second round after eliminating Hafia of Guinea.
Enyimba, second runners-up in the Nigerian League will be attempting to win the Confederation Cup for the first time for Nigeria as they did in the Champions League 21 years ago.
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