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CAF CONFEDERATION CUP: RANGERS GO FOR 3 POINTS IN TUNISIA

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BY APESIN ADEMOLA.

Rangers file out tonight in Sfax for one of their toughest fixtures in the group stage of the continent’s second tier club competition, the CAF Confederation Cup.

In what is regarded as the tournament’s “group of death”, the Flying Antelopes are paired against tonight’s opponents and three-time winners CS Sfaxien, four-time champions Étoile du Sahel and Burkina Faso’s Salitas FC, which appear to be the weakest link in the chain.

The Nigerian representatives acquitted themselves on Matchday 1 when they triumphed 2-0 over Salitas in Enugu to lead the group on superior goal difference over Sfaxien, which makes the match in the Tunisian city of Sfax a clash of potential group winners.

Rangers are raring to go to restore Nigeria’s pride in continental competitions.

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After Enyimba’s back-to-back wins of the CAF Champions League in the early 2000s, only Kano Pillars and Heartland have reached the last four of that elite competition, both going head-to-head in the 2009 edition only for the victorious Heartland to lose to DR Congo’s TP Mazembe in the final.

In the Confederation Cup, Enyimba exited in the semifinals of the last episode losing to Raja Casablanca.

No Nigerian team have won this title since the African Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup were merged to constitute CAF Confederation Cup in 2004, while Dolphins got to the final a year later.

Nana Bonsu, the Ghanaian who minds the post for Rangers, is hopeful that the Tunisian obstacle in the form of CS Sfaxien will be surmounted. He told CAFonline.com that by beating Salitas in their opening group match, the path to success is smoothened on their way to a first continental glory since 1977 when Rangers lifted the then African Cup Winners Cup by beating Cameroon’s Canon Yaoundé 5-2 aggregate in the final.

“In football, everything is possible despite the fact that we have two strong Tunisian clubs in our group,” Bonsu said. “We are going to play football and that is the most important thing.

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“Yes, the group looks difficult but nothing is impossible in football. We shall do our best to ensure we qualify from the group.”

In the other match in Group B, where Rangers feature, the other Tunisian side Étoile du Sahel will be away in Burkina Faso to Salitas FC. Both teams are under pressure having lost their respective opening fixture.

Étoile had won this competition in 1995, 1999, 2006 and 2015, and also lifted the Champions League in 2007, and were runners-up twice (2004 and 2005).

Group A has all four teams, which include three Moroccan clubs, having one point each. Congo Republic’s AS Otôho are the only odd team here with Raja Casablanca, RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir, all of Morocco, completing the group.

In Group C, ZESCO United of Zambia and Sudan’s Al-Hilal are ahead having won their first group game, while Ashante Kotoko SC of Ghana and Nkana from Zambia chase their first points.

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Like Group C, Group D also have two frontrunners – Gor Mahia of Kenya and Algeria’s NA Hussein Dey – who won on Matchday 1, piling pressure on Petro de Luanda of Angola and Egypt’s Zamalek.

Group stage (Matchday 2)

Group B:

  • CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) v Rangers (Nigeria) (8pm)
  •  Salitas FC (Burkina Faso) v Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) (5pm)

Group A:

  • Raja Casablanca (Morocco) v AS Otôho (Congo Republic) (5pm)
  • RS Berkane (Morocco) v Hassania Agadir (Morocco) (8pm)

Group C:

  • Nkana (Zambia) v Al-Hilal (Sudan) (2pm), 
  • Ashante Kotoko SC (Ghana) v ZESCO United (Zambia) (5pm) 

Group D:

  • Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Gor Mahia (Kenya) (5pm)
  •  Zamalek (Egypt) v NA Hussein Dey (Algeria) (8pm)

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Ahead of Nigeria-Libya match: Some kidnapped journalists regain freedom

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An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.

This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the  Anambra and Imo states axis.

”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.

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Klopp becomes Red Bull global soccer chief in first job after Liverpool

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Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 19, 2024 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts as he gives a speech after his last match as Liverpool manager REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.

Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”

The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.

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Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.

“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.

Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.

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Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.

Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.

-Reuters

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Cape Verdean, Delgado Rocha, to take charge of Libya, Nigeria battle in Benina

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Referee Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine of Cape Verde

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.

He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.

Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.

Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).  

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