CAF Champions League
RANGERS, LOBI STARS WILL SCALE THE HEIGHTS, VICTOR EZEJI TELLS CAF
Victor Ezeji is an iconic figure in Nigerian
football, having spent his entire career on the local front. He is currently an
ambassador for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) since retiring
after a career that lasted nearly two decades.
A proud member of the Enyimba squad the broke the country’s almost three
decades continental drought by winning the CAF Champions League trophy in 2003,
Ezeji has other remarkable credentials attached to his name including winning a
domestic double with Dolphins (now Rivers United) of Port Harcourt in 2004. He
also featured for a string of other local clubs (Sharks, Sunshine Stars,
Heartland) and a short spell with Club Africain of Tunisia. Holder of a degree
in accounting from the University of Port-Harcourt, the 37-year-old Ezeji talked
to CAFOnline.com about the exploits of the two Nigerian teams involved in the
continental club championships, Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers as well as his
transition from the pitch to TV punditry. Below are excerpts;
CAFOnline.com: What is the major key to success for clubs playing on the continent?
Victor Ezeji: Good preparation is a non-negotiable
factor for any club to succeed in continental club competitions. It involves so
many things including the quality of your playing staff; travelling arrangements;
management of the matches and other minute factors. Any team that prepares well
would do well and I can say by and large, the two teams representing Nigeria
this time, Lobi Stars and Rangers are coping well despite challenges on the
domestic front such as fixture congestion.
How would you rate the performance of
Lobi Stars thus far?
Lobi Stars have not done badly in the Total Champions League. After losing 1-0
at home to Wydad Athletic Club, many expected ‘them to skinned alive’ in the
return.
They managed
to get a draw, which is a morale booster ahead of their next game against
Mamelodi Sundowns. If they can get a good result against Sundowns, they would
be back on the stream by the time they host ASEC Mimosas in the penultimate
match. They still have a great possibility of qualifying for the quarterfinals
if they can manage their situation very well.
What of Rangers?
Rangers have yet to suffer defeat and we have to applaud their efforts
especially in a group with former winners’ Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien.
In their last
game away to Sfaxien, they fought back to draw level less than two minutes
after Sfaxien had taken the lead; and that shows the sort of confidence they
have. Surprisingly, they are the team to beat despite the presence of the two Tunisian
top sides. Rangers have so many experienced players in their fold as well as
experienced management staff. There is nothing better than blending experience
and youth. I expect Rangers to progress to the next stage.
Which players have caught your attention
from both Rangers and Lobi Stars?
From Rangers,
Godwin Aguda, Bright Silas and their entire backline especially Ajani Ibrahim
have done well. On the part of Lobi Stars, they have blended experienced
players with youths; and imagine the presence of David Tyavkase who was my
teammate when we won the CAF Champions League trophy with Enyimba in 2003. They
also have an experienced player in Cletus Itodo and others that would naturally
guide the younger players in the squad.
How soon would a Nigerian club win a
continental trophy?
With the way the trend is going, we are almost getting close. Last season, Enyimba made it to the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup before losing to eventual winners Raja Club Athletic.
Lobi Stars and
Rangers have done well so far and I think they can go further especially if
they make the quarters. Usually, it’s a gradual process like we did with
Enyimba in the early 2000’s before the club became a very strong force. In the
next two or three years, we should get a club to bring back home a continental
club trophy.
Your transition from being a player to
TV pundit has been so swift; what prepared you for this new life after
retirement from football?
Life after football has not always being easy and rosy. When you are playing, you’re on top of the world because virtually everything was done for you. You hardly do or think for yourself because most of your responsibilities would be taken care by others because they want you to focus on just playing football. But you are faced with stark reality of life once you stop playing. I had long planned to be a TV pundit even whiles playing.
That’ s why I opted out of coaching when I retired; but working with SuperSport has given me the kind of opportunity I wanted. This has given me the opportunity to also share my wealth of experience with the players as well as the fans since I can always provide better insights having gone through the same route. It has been a wonderful experience for me because it has made me to do more research and learn more about the game.
I also think, it serves as a big motivation for younger players and it shows that irrespective of what you are doing today, you can be whatever you want to be. Generally, life after football has been truly amazing for me; I still work out and play as much as I can with younger players and friends.
Zamalek booked their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Congo’s Otoho, surviving a tough clash in Cairo to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
The Egyptian side looked to be cruising after racing into a two-goal lead early on, but a late goal, a red card, and an extraordinary finish — which saw striker Seifeddine Jaziri forced into goal — turned the match into a tense battle for survival.
In the end, Zamalek held firm under pressure to secure their place in the last four, where they will face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad.
Fast start puts Zamalek in control
Backed by a lively home crowd at Cairo International Stadium, Zamalek started with intent and quickly imposed themselves on the contest.
Their breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Hossam Abdel-Maguid rose highest to meet a well-delivered corner from Abdullah El-Said, powering a header past the goalkeeper.
Just minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage.
Oday Dabbagh reacted quickest inside the penalty area after El-Said’s initial effort was parried, calmly finishing the rebound to give Zamalek a commanding lead on the night.
With momentum firmly on their side, Zamalek continued to threaten, coming close to a third goal before the break as efforts struck the woodwork in quick succession.
Missed chances keep tie alive
Despite their dominance, Zamalek were unable to extend their lead further, leaving the tie still within reach for the visitors.
Otoho, largely contained in the first half, showed glimpses of danger on the counterattack but struggled to break down a well-organised Zamalek defence.
As the second half unfolded, the tempo slowed slightly, with Zamalek appearing in control as they managed possession and limited clear opportunities for the Congolese side.
Late drama shifts momentum
The match took a dramatic turn in the closing stages.
In the 83rd minute, Otoho reignited the contest when Grace Mavungo unleashed a powerful strike from distance that flew past the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit and injecting tension into the stadium.
Moments later, the situation escalated further.
Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi was shown a straight red card following an altercation with an Otoho player, leaving the hosts with ten men and no recognised goalkeeper on the pitch.
With all substitutions already used, forward Seifeddine Jaziri was forced to don the gloves, creating an extraordinary scenario in the dying minutes of a high-stakes continental tie.
Holding on under pressure
Sensing an opportunity, Otoho pushed forward relentlessly in search of a second goal that would have changed the outcome of the tie.
The visitors launched a series of attacks, attempting long-range efforts and crosses into the penalty area, testing Zamalek’s makeshift defensive setup.
Jaziri, now guarding the goal, was protected by a determined defensive effort as Zamalek players threw themselves into challenges and blocked attempts to preserve their advantage.
Seven minutes of added time felt like an eternity for the home supporters, but Zamalek managed to withstand the pressure and see out the match.
Semi-final place secured
The final whistle sparked relief and celebration among the Zamalek players and fans, confirming their progression to the semi-finals.
-Cafonline
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Mamelodi Sundowns held firm under intense pressure in Bamako to book their place in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, advancing 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-0 second-leg defeat to Stade Malien on Sunday.
The South African champions, who arrived with a commanding first-leg advantage, were pushed to the brink by a determined Stade Malien side but ultimately did enough to secure a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance.
Early Shock in Bamako
The hosts made a dream start, taking the lead inside the opening minute through Taddeus Nkeng, whose close-range header was confirmed by VAR after an initial offside call. The early goal ignited the home crowd and unsettled Sundowns, who struggled to find their rhythm amid relentless pressing from the Malian side.
Nkeng appeared to double the lead moments later, but VAR once again intervened to rule the effort out for offside, offering Sundowns a temporary reprieve.
Mandjan Strikes as Hosts Take Control
Stade Malien’s pressure paid off just before half-time when Haman Mandjan capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area, firing home a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 on the night.
With the aggregate scoreline now finely balanced, momentum swung firmly in favour of the hosts, while Sundowns struggled to create clear chances, with Arthur Sales missing their best opportunity of the half.
Sundowns Regain Composure
After the break, Sundowns showed greater composure, slowing the tempo and attempting to reassert control. They thought they had found a crucial away goal when Iqraam Rayners turned the ball home from close range, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Coach Miguel Cardoso responded by introducing fresh legs as his side focused on game management and protecting their aggregate lead.
Late Drama and Defensive Resolve
The closing stages brought further tension when Sundowns were reduced to ten men following a straight red card for Aubrey Modiba.
Sensing an opportunity to force extra time, Stade Malien launched wave after wave of attacks, testing goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. However, the Sundowns defence held firm, showing resilience and discipline to withstand the late onslaught despite their numerical disadvantage.
Aggregate Advantage Seals Progress
Although beaten on the night, Sundowns’ first-leg dominance ultimately proved decisive as they advanced to the last four.
For Stade Malien, the result marked a valiant effort that came close to overturning the tie, while Sundowns once again demonstrated the experience and composure required to navigate the pressures of knockout football at the highest level on the continent.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
It was a disappointing weekend for Egyptian football on the continental stage as all three representatives—Pyramids FC, Al Ahly and Al Masry—crashed out of their respective CAF interclub competitions at the quarter-final stage.
Pyramids FC Fall to AS FAR
Defending champions Pyramids FC were eliminated from the CAF Champions League after a 2-1 home defeat to Morocco’s AS FAR at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium.
Having secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat, the Egyptian side entered the return leg with a slight advantage but were undone by a clinical Moroccan performance.
Reda Slim gave AS FAR an early lead in the ninth minute, while Mohamed Rabie Hrimat doubled the advantage early in the second half. Although Fiston Mayele pulled one back in the 64th minute, Pyramids could not find the equaliser as AS FAR advanced 3-2 on aggregate.
The visitors maintained defensive discipline under sustained pressure to seal a semi-final berth, where they will face either RS Berkane or Al-Hilal.
Ahly Stunned by Esperance in Cairo
In a major upset, record African champions Al Ahly were knocked out following a 3-2 home defeat to Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Cairo International Stadium.
Already trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Ahly exited 4-2 on aggregate, marking their first failure to reach the semi-finals since 2019.
Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Ahly an early lead, but Esperance responded strongly in the second half through Florian Danho and Mohamed Tougai, who converted from the penalty spot. Substitute Marwan Othman briefly restored parity late on, but Hamza Jelassi struck a stoppage-time winner to seal a famous victory.
The result also marked Esperance’s first-ever CAF Champions League win over Ahly on Egyptian soil.
Masry Exit on Away Goals
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Al Masry were eliminated after a goalless draw against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Suez, the Port Said side were knocked out on the away goals rule.
Despite a disciplined defensive display and moments of attacking promise, Masry were unable to find the breakthrough, with CR Belouizdad advancing to the semi-finals.
A Rare Continental Setback
The triple elimination marks a rare setback for Egyptian clubs, traditionally dominant forces in African competitions.
For Ahly, the defeat ended a consistent run of semi-final appearances, while Pyramids’ title defence came to an abrupt halt. Masry, meanwhile, bowed out at the same stage for the second consecutive season.
Zamalek will attempt to scale through this Sunday in their quarter-final second leg match on the CAF Confederation Cup against the Congolese side, AS Otoho. The Egyptian side earned a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
World Cup Fans, Players And Officials Face $15,000 Visa Bonds to Enter U.S.
- AFCON5 days ago
AFCON to Expand to 28 Teams as CAF Unveils New Competition Calendar
- World Cup3 days ago
Infantino promises FIFA backing for Iran to play at World Cup
- World Cup1 week ago
Jamaica Edge New Caledonia to Set Up Decisive World Cup Showdown with DR Congo
- AFCON5 days ago
CAF May Sanction Senegal Over AFCON Trophy Parade
- Governing Bodies5 days ago
BREAKING! Nigeria’s Samson Adamu Appointed Acting CAF General Secretary
- Table Tennis4 days ago
Aruna Faces Tough Draw as Africa Targets Glory at ITTF World Cup in Macao
- World Cup1 week ago
New Zealand players willing to play World Cup opener against Iran outside the US