CAF Champions League

CAF CLUB COMPETITIONS: ENYIMBA, PILLARS, OTHERS KNOW OPPONENTS

Published

5 years ago

July 22, 2019

BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE

Nigeria’s Premier League champions, Enyimba will start next season’s CAF Champions League campaign in the first round with a first leg fixture against Burkinabe representatives, Rahimo FC, while Kano Pillars will go up against Ghana’s Asante Kotoko at the same stage.

While the People’s Elephants travel for the first leg, which holds between August 9 and 11, Pillars will host the Ghana representatives before travelling to Kumasi for the second leg fixed for between August 23 and 25.

If they pull through to the second round, which immediately precedes the group stage, Enyimba will challenge the winners of the tie between Sudan’s Al-Hilal Omdurman and Rayon Sports FC of Rwanda. Kano Pillars will go up against either Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel or Hafia FC of Guinea.

The first leg of the second round is scheduled for September 13 to 15 and the reverse fixtures two weeks after.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Rangers go straight into the second round to take on the winners of the first round between AS Pélican of Gabon and DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union.

For Niger Tornadoes, who will play the final of the Aiteo Cup at the weekend against Kano Pillars, their return to the continent for the first time since 2001 will see them challenge Santoba FC of Guinea in the first round with the first leg a home fixture.

If they go through, Tornadoes will have Ivorien side FC San Pédro to contend with in the second round, the first leg also holding at home.

Nigerian clubs have failed to make impact in the continent in the last seven years resulting in the country’s quota reduced to one team each in the last edition of the two club competitions.

Since Enyimba won the elite club competition back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, the best outing was semifinal final showing by Sunshine Stars in 2012 where eventual champions Al-Ahly of Egypt triumphed 4-3 aggregate.

In the Confederation Cup, Enyimba got to the last four in 2018 where Morococo’s Raja Casablanca stopped them 3-1 aggregate.

The full fixtures…

2019/20 CAF Champions League (First round first leg):

Rahimo FC (Burkina Faso) v Enyimba (Nigeria)
Kano Pillars (Nigeria) v Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda) v Al-Hilal (Sudan)
Hafia FC (Guinea) v Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
Brikama United (Gambia) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
AS Tempête Mocaf (Central African Republic) v Al-Nasr SC (Libya)
JS Kabylie (Algeria) v Al-Merrikh SC (Sudan)
Stade Malien (Mali) v Horoya (Guinea)
Buffles du Borgou (Benin Republic) v ASC Kara (Togo)
UMS de Loum (Cameroon) v AS Vita Club (DR Congo)
AS SONIDEP (Niger) v USM Alger (Algeria)
Aigle Noir (Burundi) v Gor Mahia (Kenya)
Atlabara FC (South Sudan) v Egypt1 (Egypt)
Cano Sport Academy (Equatorial Guinea) v Mekelle 70 Enderta (Ethiopia)
Dekedaha FC (Somalia) v Egypt2 (Egypt)
LPRC Oilers (Liberia) v Génération Foot (Senegal)
Africa Stars FC (Namibia) v KCCA (Uganda)
Matlama FC (Lesotho) v Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Fomboni FC (Comoros Islands) v Côte d’Or (Seychelles)
AS Otôho (Congo Republic) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
SO de l’Armée (Côte d’Ivoire) v FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
Cercle Mbéri Sportif (Gabon) v Elect-Sport FC (Chad Republic)
Green Mamba (Eswatini) v ZESCO United (Zambia)
Young Africans SC (Tanzania) v Township Rollers (Botswana)
Big Bullets FC (Malawi) v FC Platinum (Zimbabwe)
UD Songo (Mozambique) v Simba SC (Tanzania),
KMKM (Zanzibar) v 1º de Agosto (Angola)
Green Eagles (Zambia) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Fosa Juniors FC (Madagascar) v Pamplemousses (Mauritius)

2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup (First round first leg):

Niger Tornadoes (Nigeria) v Santoba FC (Guinea)
AS Pélican (Gabon) v AS Maniema Union (DR Congo)
ASC SNIM(Mauritania) v ESAE (Benin Republic)
US GN (Niger Republic) v Al-Ittihad SC (Libya)
Maranatha FC (Togo) v LISCR FC (Liberia)
Paradou AC (Algeria) v CI Kamsar(Guinea)
Roche-Bois Bolton City (Mauritius) v Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana)
Mogadishu City Club (Somalia) v Malindi SC (Zanzibar)
Akonangui FC (Equatorial Guinea) v Ashanti Gold SC (Ghana)
TS Galaxy FC (South Africa) v Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles)
Buildcon FC (Zambia) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
Arta/Solar7 (Djibouti) v Al Khartoum SC (Sudan)
DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) v Stade Renard de Melong (Cameroon)
AS Kigali (Rwanda) v KMC (Tanzania)
Proline FC (Uganda) v Masters Security FC (Malawi)
Bandari FC (Kenya) v Al-Ahly Shendi (Sudan)
US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia) v Amarat United (South Sudan)
Fasil Kenema SC (Ethiopia) v Azam FC (Tanzania)
Triangle United (Zimbabwe) v Rukinzo FC Burundi)
Egypt2 (Egypt) v Étoile du Congo (Congo Republic)
CR Belouizdad (Algeria) v AS CotonTchad (Chad Republic)

First leg: August 9 – 11, 2019

Second leg: August 23 – 25, 2019

2019/20 CAF Champions League (Second Round 1st leg):

Enyimba (Nigeria)/Rahimo FC (Burkina Faso) v Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda)/Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)

Asante Kotoko (Ghana)/Kano Pillars (Nigeria) v Hafia FC (Guinea)/Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

AS Tempête Mocaf (Central African Republic)/Al-Nasr SC (Libya) v Brikama United(Gambia)/Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

JS Kabylie (Algeria)/Al-Merrikh SC (Sudan) v Stade Malien (Mali)/Horoya (Guinea)

Buffles du Borgou (Benin Republic)/ASC Kara(Togo) v UMS de Loum (Cameroon)/AS Vita Club (DR Congo)

AS SONIDEP (Niger)/USM Alger (Algeria) v Aigle Noir (Burundi)/Gor Mahia (Kenya)

Cano Sport Academy (Equatorial Guinea)/Mekelle 70 Enderta (Ethiopia) v Atlabara FC (South Sudan)/Egypt1 (Egypt)

LPRC Oilers (Liberia)/Génération Foot (Senegal) v Dekedaha FC (Somalia)/Egypt2 (Egypt)

Matlama FC (Lesotho)/Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Africa Stars FC (Namibia)/KCCA (Uganda)

Fomboni FC (Comoros Islands)/Côte d’Or(Seychelles) v AS Otôho (Congo Republic)/Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

SO de l’Armée (Côte d’Ivoire)/FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) v Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Cercle Mbéri Sportif (Gabon)/Elect-Sport FC (Chad Republic) v Espérance (Tunisia)

Young Africans SC (Tanzania)/Township Rollers (Botswana) v Green Mamba (Eswatini)/ZESCO United (Zambia)

Big Bullets FC (Malawi)/FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) v UD Songo (Mozambique)/Simba SC (Tanzania)

Green Eagles (Zambia)/Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v KMKM (Zanzibar)/1º de Agosto (Angola)

Fosa Juniors FC (Madagascar)/Pamplemousses (Mauritius) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup (Second round first leg):

AS Pélican (Gabon)/AS Maniema Union (DR Congo) v Rangers (Nigeria)

Niger Tornadoes (Nigeria)/Santoba FC (Guinea) v FC San Pédro (Côte d’Ivoire)

ASC SNIM (Mauritania)/ESAE (Benin Republic) v Salitas SC (Burkina Faso)

US GN (Niger Republic)/Al-Ittihad SC (Libya) v Hassania Agadir (Morocco)

Maranatha FC (Togo)/LISCR FC (Liberia) v Djoliba SC (Mali)

Paradou AC (Algeria)/CI Kamsar (Guinea) v CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Roche-Bois Bolton City (Mauritius)/Jwaneng Galaxy FC (Botswana) v Zanaco FC (Zambia)

Mogadishu City Club (Somalia)/Malindi SC (Zanzibar) Egypt1 (Egypt)

Akonangui FC (Equatorial Guinea)/Ashanti Gold SC (Ghana) v RS Berkane (Morocco)

TS Galaxy FC (South Africa)/Saint Louis Suns United (Seychelles) v CNaPS Sport (Madagascar)

Buildcon FC (Zambia)/Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) v Bidvest Wits (South Africa)

Arta/Solar7 (Djibouti)/Al Khartoum SC (Sudan) v DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo)/Stade Renard de Melong (Cameroon)

AS Kigali (Rwanda)/KMC (Tanzania) v Proline FC (Uganda)/Masters Security FC (Malawi)

Bandari FC (Kenya)/Al-Ahly Shendi (Sudan) v US Ben Guerdane (Tunisia)/Amarat United (South Sudan)

Fasil Kenema SC (Ethiopia)/Azam FC (Tanzania) v Triangle United (Zimbabwe)/Rukinzo FC (Burundi)

Egypt2 (Egypt)/Étoile du Congo (Congo Republic) v CR Belouizdad (Algeria)/AS CotonTchad (Chad Republic)

First leg: September 13 – 15, 2019

Second leg: September 27 – 29, 2019

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CAF Champions League

CAF Champions League: Travelling teams secure victories on the road

Published

4 days ago

September 15, 2024

Kunle Solaja

CAF Champions League 2nd Preliminary Round action resumed on Saturday, 14 September following the resumption of the Africa’s premium club competition on Friday.

It was mostly the travelling teams that secured victories away from home on Saturday, who put themselves in fairly comfortable situations ahead of the return leg next week.

Orlando Pirates had a mental obstacle to overcome in Gaborone against Jwaneng Galaxy, having to face the same side that eliminated them in the same phase of the competition last season.

The former champions secured a 2-0 victory in Gaborone to put themselves in a comfortable position ahead of the return leg next weekend.

Five-time champions, TP Mazembe were away to Red Arrows in Zambia where they also put two past their hosts ahead of the return leg in Lubumbashi.

Mamelodi Sundowns, who played their away match in the comfort of their home stadium against Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows made use of home ground advantage with a comfortable 4-0 win over their neighbours.

Tanzanian champions, Young Africans secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over CBE SA of Rwanda as Tanzanian giants continue to chase a continental title.

It was a rather tough outing for Moroccan outfit, AS FAR when they travelled to Sudan to face Al Merrikh. A highly entertaining encounter concluded with a 2-2 draw, ahead of the return leg in Morocco.

Egyptian side, Pyramids FC also played out to a draw when they were held 1-1 by APR FC in Rwanda.

Burkina Faso side, Association Sportive des Douanes out up an impressive showing when they edged Algeria’s CR Belouizdad by 1-0.

The first leg of the 2nd Preliminary Round concludes on Sunday, with five interesting encounters lined up, including reigning champions Al Ahly kick starting their title defense away from home.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Results & Fixtures:

Friday, 13 September

Enugu Rangers 1 – 0 Sagrada Esperanca

Monastir 0 – 1 MC Alger

Saturday, 14 September

CBE SA 0 – 1 Young Africans

Red Arrows 0 – 2 TP Mazembe

Al-Merrikh 2 – 2 AS FAR

Jwaneng Galaxy FC 0 – 2 Orlando Pirates FC

Maniema Union 2 – 1 Petro de Luanda

Djoliba 1 – 0 ASKO

Douanes 1 – 0 CR Belouizdad

Sunday, 15 September

12h00 GMT | Gor Mahia vs Al Ahly

15h00 GMT | Samartex vs Raja CA

16h00 GMT | San Pedro vs Al-Hilal

16h00 GMT | Dekedaha vs ES Tunis

19h00 GMT | Stade d’Abidjan vs Milo FC

The return leg fixtures of the 2nd Preliminary stage will be played between 20 – 22 September.

-CAF

CAF Champions League

Enugu Rangers in slim CAF Champions League win over Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca

Published

6 days ago

September 13, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Enugu Rangers’ patchy form in the CAF Champions League continues as they struggled to beat visiting Angola’s Sagrada Esperance 1-0 in the first leg match played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

It was in similar fashion that they played against Union Sportive de Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands who they beat 2-1 over two legs in Uyo.

Rangers’ lone goal was scored by Kazeem Ogunleye in the 80^th minute.

CAF Champions League

VIDEO: Controversial penalty kick remains a talking point in Remo Stars’ elimination

Published

3 weeks ago

August 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Benin Republic’s Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali awarded a 78th minute penalty kick that sealed Remo Stars hopes.

But for the questionable penalty kick awarded for AS FAR of Morocco in the 78^th minute of the tension-soaked CAF Champions League duel with Remo Stars on Sunday in Rabat, the complexion of the final result as well as the aggregate scorelines may have been different.

Match scoreline stood at 1-1 before the referee, Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali of Benin Republic, who was midway to the centre circle suddenly blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick to the hosts.

Before then, all body contacts had been ruled against Remo Stars. Even, the Moroccans looked amused when the referee, who was off the scene suddenly ran into the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick for an incident, even if it were an infraction, happened outside the penalty box.

The award of the penalty kick and the conversion by El Amine Zouhzouh, literaly sealed Remo Stars thin hope of advancing.

The Nigerian side left it too late as they only came out to attack after their hopes had been sealed.

In starting the crucial match, their lead scorer, Sikiru Alimi and assist master, Sodiq Ismail were brought in only after the damage had been done. It was after the first goal in the 51^st minute that Alimi was brought in in the 54^th minute.