CAF Confederation Cup
HOW RANGERS BEAT BANTU IN LESOTHO
A goal in each half by Bright Silas and Godwin Aguda handed
Enugu Rangers a 2-1 advantage over Bantu in the CAF Confederation Cup play-off
first leg tie played at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday in Maseru.
The home side settled quicker into the game and had an opportunity to take the
lead as early as the fifth minute, but Tumelo Maine failed to find the target
from close range.
With Bantu enjoying more ball possession and creating better goal scoring
chances, it would be the visitors that would break the deadlock against the run
of play to stun the home side.
Silas got his side ahead punishing Bantu after they failed to clear their lines
to give Rangers the lead in the 18th minute.
Ibrahim Ajani had a good opportunity to increase the lead just before the
half-time break, but his effort went wide.
The home side reacted by making an early change as Maine was taken-off and
replaced by experienced Mokone Marabe before the match headed for the break.
In the second-half, chances were few and far between, which led to both teams
making changes in attack.
Bantu introduced another forward in Lazola Jokojokwane, who replaced Bokang
Sello while Pape Sane replaced Akpos Adubi for Rangers
Hlompho Kalake nearly snatched the equalizer in the 75th minute, but Rangers
goalie Nana Bonsu made a good save to keep his side in the lead.
Bantu were caught wanting again in the late stages of the match as Aguda scored
the second goal for the visitors with an easy tap in six minutes from
time.
Though the home side managed to get a consolation goal through Jokojokwane in
additional time, Rangers took the 2-1 lead heading to the second leg tie in
Nigeria on Sunday.
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.
Many fans risk missing 2026 World Cup as Visa window for visitors is closing
Nigeria’s Victor Olatunji becomes third African scoring debutant in Uefa Champions League
Lagos sports writers mourn Adeyinka Adebayo
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
AFCON1 week agoSuper Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON1 week agoAustin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON1 week agoWhy I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON1 week agoRwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoWesterhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON1 week agoNigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON7 days agoPresent and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
-
CAF Confederation Cup6 days agoEnyimba continues unbeaten run against Burkina Faso clubs