CAF Champions League
LOBI STARS FACE ASEC CHALLENGE IN ABIDJAN
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
The Matchday 2 of this season’s CAF Champions League hold this weekend with Nigeria’s representatives Lobi Stars away to ASEC Mimosas at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Saturday.
This season, ASEC Mimosas have kept clean sheets in four of their five Champions League fixtures and won all two matches on their 45,000 capacity ground located in Le Plateau district of the Ivorien economic capital.
Having lost their opening group match 2-5 in Casablanca to Wydad, the Ivorien champions will like to make amends by not conceding ground to their Nigerian guests.
ASEC’s only ultimate triumph in this competition was in 1998 when they beat Zimbabwe’s Dynamos FC 4-2 aggregate in the final.
Lobi Stars will have to tighten their defence particularly in the first half, the period their hosts had scored in all their home fixtures, and also be on the watch out for Abdoul Tapsoba, ASEC’s goal poacher with two goals in five matches.
The Pride of Benue, as Lobi Stars are fondly called, started the group campaign on a winning note by dispatching South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Enugu.
They will therefore be seeking to consolidate on that stride ahead of their back-to-back matches against group top seed Wydad Casablanca.
But ASEC wouldn’t like to suffer yet another defeat so soon.
“We know ASEC are a very good side and we can’t judge them with the loss against Wydad,” Lobi Stars’ new recruit from Enyimba, Oluwadamilare Ojo told CAFOnline.com. The midfielder was the man-of-the match against Mamelodi Sundowns.
“Though we respect ASEC because of their pedigree and being former winner of the CAF Champions League, we would ensure we return Abidjan with a positive result.”
Lobi will hope that Sikiru Alimi will be in his elements. He converted three of the team’s seven goals in the campaign.
They will however miss the services of John Lawrence who will be serving a two-match suspension as a result of his involvement in an incident last December in Kenya when Lobi Stars faced Gor Mahia.
CAF Disciplinary Council also fined Lobi Stars $1,500 for the player’s action and pitch invasion as well as crowd incitement.
Coach Solomon Ogbeide believes his squad can change their underdog status in the competition. “We haven’t won anything yet but we can now build on the victory against Mamelodi Sundowns to focus on the game against ASEC.
“We have a good spirit; and remains positive going for the game, and we are going to take the game to them in Abidjan,” Ogbeide assured.
Saturday’s game will be the first time ASEC Mimosas and Lobi Stars will be playing in all competitions.
In the other fixture of the group, Mamelodi Sundowns play host to Wydad Casablanca at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, also on Saturday.
In the Confederation Cup, Rangers have their date on Sunday against Lesotho’s Bantu FC, who they beat away 2-1 in the first leg.
The Flying Antelopes will be expected to finish the job at home to qualify for the group stage where 16 teams will be paired into four sections.
2018/19 CAF Champions League (Group stage)
Matchday 2 fixtures
Friday…
Group B:
- Espérance (Tunisia) v FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) (2pm)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v Horoya (Guinea) (5pm)
Group C:
- Ismaily (Egypt) v Club Africain (Tunisia) (5pm)
Group D:
- JS Saoura (Algeria) v Al-Ahly (Egypt) (8pm)
Saturday…
Group A:
- ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v Lobi Stars (Nigeria) (5pm)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) (8pm)
Group D:
- AS Vita Club (DR Congo) v Simba (Tanzania) (5pm)
Group C:
- CS Constantine (Algeria) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo) (8pm)
2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff second leg):
- Mukura Victory Sports (Rwanda) v Al-Hilal (Sudan)
- (first leg Al-Hilal Omdurman 3-0) (2:30pm)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Stade Malien (Mali) (first leg 1-1) (4pm)
- Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) v Al-Nasr (Libya) (first leg Al-Nasr 1-0) (5pm)
- NA Hussein Dey (Algeria) v Al-Ahly Benghazi (Libya)
- (first leg Al-Ahly Benghazi 1-0) (5:45pm)
- Zamalek (Egypt) v Ittihad Tanger (Morocco) (first leg 0-0) (6pm)
- Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) v ZESCO United (Zambia) (first leg ZESCO United 3-1)
- RS Berkane (Morocco) v ASC Diaraf (Senegal) (first leg) (first leg ASC Diaraf 2-0)
- Hassania Agadir (Morocco) v Jimma Aba Jifar (Ethiopia) (first leg Hassania Agadir 1-0) (8pm)
Sunday…
2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup (Playoff second leg):
- Rangers (Nigeria) v Bantu FC (Lesotho) (first leg Rangers 2-1)
- Ashante Kotoko SC (Ghana) v Coton Sport (Cameroon) (first leg Ashante Kotoko SC 3-2) (both 4pm);
- KCCA (Uganda) v AS Otôho (Congo Republic) (first leg AS Otôho 3-0) (2pm)
- New Star FC (Cameroon) v Gor Mahia (Kenya)(first leg Gor Mahia 2-1) (3pm)
- FC San Pédro (Côte d’Ivoire) v Nkana (Zambia) (first leg Nkana 3-0) (5pm)
- Raja Casablanca (Morocco) v African Stars FC (Namibia) (first leg 1-1) (5pm)
- CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) v Vipers (Uganda) (first leg 0-0) (6pm)
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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