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.
By Kunle Solaja.
Rangers and Rivers United have officially secured Nigeria’s two slots in next season’s CAF Champions League after opening an unassailable gap at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table with one round of matches remaining.
Rangers lead the standings on 65 points, one ahead of Rivers United on 64 points, ensuring both clubs will represent Nigeria in Africa’s premier club competition regardless of the outcome of the final day fixtures.
Enugu Rangers: File Photo
The battle for the NPFL title, however, remains delicately poised and will be decided on the final day of the season on May 24.
Rangers, who are chasing a ninth league title, face a tricky away trip to fourth-placed Ikorodu City in Lagos. The Flying Antelopes need victory to guarantee the championship, while any slip could hand Rivers United the opportunity to snatch the title.
Rivers United, meanwhile, will host eighth-placed Katsina United in Port Harcourt and will be hoping Rangers stumble against Ikorodu City.
Rivers United set for another continental outing
While the Champions League representatives have been confirmed, the race for Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup ticket is set for a dramatic finish between Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Ikorodu City.
Shooting Stars currently occupy third place with 60 points, two ahead of Ikorodu City on 58 points.
The Ibadan club hold the advantage going into the final round and only needs to avoid defeat away to Niger Tornadoes to secure continental football ticket.
With the championship and continental ticket races still unresolved, the final day of the NPFL season promises high drama across the country
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Moroccan giants AS FAR Rabat have powered their way into the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final, delivering a campaign that reflects discipline, resilience and the enduring strength of Moroccan club football on the continental stage.
Set to face South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in a two-legged final, FAR Rabat’s journey has been anything but straightforward. From the early qualifying rounds to high-stakes knockout ties, the Moroccan side has built its success on defensive organisation and composure in decisive moments.
Their campaign began with quiet authority against Real de Banjul of The Gambia, securing back-to-back victories home and away. A more demanding test followed against Guinea’s Horoya, but FAR’s commanding 3-0 home performance in the second leg underlined their ability to rise under pressure.
In the group stage, FAR were drawn into a demanding pool featuring African heavyweights Al Ahly SC, Tanzania’s Young Africans and Algeria’s JS Kabylie. While goals were scarce, the Moroccan side showed remarkable defensive discipline, conceding just twice in six matches. Their ability to grind out results—especially a goalless draw in Cairo against Al Ahly—proved crucial in securing a place in the knockout rounds.
But it was in the latter stages that FAR Rabat truly announced themselves.
Facing defending champions Pyramids FC in the quarter-finals, the Moroccan side produced one of the standout results of the tournament. After a 1-1 draw at home, they stunned their hosts in Egypt with a 2-1 away victory—eliminating the title holders and sending a strong message across the continent.
The semi-final then delivered a fiercely contested Moroccan derby against RS Berkane. FAR seized control with a 2-0 first-leg win, built on tactical discipline and clinical finishing. Though Berkane edged the return leg 1-0, FAR’s advantage held, confirming their place in the final and extending an impressive run marked by one of the best defensive records in the competition.
Across 14 matches, FAR Rabat have relied less on attacking flair and more on structure, patience and execution—qualities that have become synonymous with Morocco’s growing influence in African football.
Their progression to the final is not just a club achievement; it reinforces Morocco’s rising stature on the continent, following recent successes at both club and national levels. Now, standing one step from continental glory, FAR Rabat carry the weight of national expectation into a final against a seasoned Sundowns side.
If their campaign so far is any indication, Morocco’s representatives will not be overawed. They have already conquered champions, survived hostile away grounds and navigated intense domestic rivalries.
The final hurdle now awaits—but FAR Rabat have shown they are built for moments like this.
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CAF Champions League
Portuguese Brains, African Glory: Cardoso and Santos Set for Tactical Duel in CAF Final
When South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns host AS FAR of Morocco in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final next week in Pretoria, the spotlight will extend beyond the pitch to the technical areas, where two Portuguese tacticians will engage in a defining duel.
According to Cafonline, the clash between Miguel Cardoso and Alexandre Santos highlights the growing imprint of Portuguese coaching philosophy across African football—an influence that continues to shape the continent’s elite competitions.
Cardoso’s Familiar Territory
For Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso, this stage is anything but new. The 52-year-old is heading into his third consecutive CAF Champions League final, having previously fallen short with Espérance Sportive de Tunis and now returning with Sundowns.
Since his appointment in December 2024, Cardoso has refined the Pretoria side into a high-intensity, possession-driven outfit built around a structured 4-3-3 system. His approach blends the club’s traditional “shoe-shine and piano” attacking philosophy with a more disciplined tactical framework.
That balance was evident in their semi-final victory, where Sundowns eliminated Esperance with a composed 2-0 aggregate win, showcasing both defensive solidity and attacking efficiency, particularly through Colombian forward Brayan León.
Across the dugout stands Alexandre Santos, whose rise has been quieter but no less significant. Appointed by FAR Rabat in February 2025, the 49-year-old has quickly transformed the Moroccan side into a disciplined, resilient unit.
Unlike Cardoso’s expansive style, Santos favours tactical flexibility, alternating between 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations depending on the opponent.
Cafoline notes that FAR’s path to the final has been built on grit rather than glamour. Their semi-final triumph over RS Berkane—a 2-1 aggregate victory—highlighted their defensive organisation, composure, and ability to manage pressure in hostile environments.
The meeting of Cardoso and Santos is part of a wider trend. Portuguese coaches have become central figures in African football, exporting tactical discipline, structure, and modern training methods across the continent.
Icons like Manuel José—a four-time Champions League winner with Al Ahly—helped set the benchmark. Others, including Carlos Queiroz, have left their mark at the national level, while figures such as José Morais and Fernando Cabrita contributed to club success across Africa.
At the philosophical core lies the broader influence of José Mourinho, whose emphasis on structure, adaptability, and game intelligence has shaped a generation of Portuguese tacticians now thriving on the continent.
Contrasting Styles, Shared Roots
What makes this final especially compelling is the contrast in approach.
Cardoso’s Sundowns are expected to dominate possession, dictate tempo, and stretch play through width and movement. Santos’ FAR Rabat, by contrast, will likely remain compact, absorb pressure, and strike through counterattacks or set-pieces.
The first leg in Pretoria could prove pivotal. Sundowns will aim to build a decisive advantage at home, while FAR will prioritise control and containment ahead of the return leg in Rabat.
On paper, Cardoso’s experience in consecutive finals gives him a marginal edge. Yet Santos has already demonstrated his ability to navigate tight knockout ties with precision and discipline.
As Cafonline observes, this “battle of the Portuguese coaches” may ultimately hinge less on ideology and more on execution.
Both men share similar footballing DNA—but interpret it differently. One seeks dominance, the other control. One expands the game, the other compresses it.
When the final whistle blows across the two legs, only one philosophy—and one coach—will claim continental immortality.
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