CAF Confederation Cup
SOUTH AFRICA’S TS GALAXY DECLARE WAR ON ENYIMBA
TS Galaxy are hard at work in preparation for an uphill battle against Nigeria’s Enyimba in the return leg of the Playoff of the Total CAF Confederation Cup.
Having suffered a 2-0 defeat in Aba last Sunday, Galaxy have a huge task of reversing a two-goal deficit against the two-time African champions.
However, Galaxy have established themselves as giant slayers and Sunday’s fixture provides the perfect opportunity to live up to their reputation that saw them shock Kaizer Chiefs at a packed Moses Mabhida stadium in the final of the Nedbank Cup (South Africa’s version of the FA Cup).
An aggregate win for “The Rockets”, as the Mpumalanga based club is affectionately known, would see them engrave their names in the African history books by the joining the elite league of second-tier clubs to reach the group stage of a CAF competition.
In 2005, Egyptian side Arab Contractors started their campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup whilst in the second-tier of Egyptian football; however by the time of the group stage they were back in the Egyptian top flight.
For South African football, this is the second time a club from the lower ranks competes in the CAF Confederation Cup following Black Leopards’ run which came short of the group stages after being edged 3-2 on aggregate by Sudanese club, Al Merreikh back in 2012.
Speaking to CAFOnline.com earlier this week, Galaxy captain and goalkeeper, Ludwe Mpakumpaku said nothing was impossible and they would have to approach the match on Sunday like men going to war against the Nigerian powerhouse.
“We need to approach the game like men going to war! We know that we are on the backfoot and that requires us to go out there and get goals.
“The match will be a great test of character and the only way for us to win the psychological battle is to get an early goal because that would put them under pressure and give us the confidence to go at them even more” said the shot-stopper.
Galaxy will be wary of the danger posed by Victor Mbaoma and Marins Usule who scored in the 7th and 60th minutes respectively. The duo were quite a handful for the second tier side who held their own against the favourites.
The likes of Khayelihle Shozi, Sizwe Mdlinzo and Nation Ndlovu will have to be on song on Sunday and make the team tick to break the stubborn Enyimba defence who will know exactly how to approach such a game from their years of experience travelling and competing on the continent.
Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits have put one foot in the group stages with an important 2-1 away win in Mozambique against UD Songo last weekend ahead of Sunday’s return fixture.
A goal by Namibian international Deon Hotto and Sameehg Doutie put the “Students” in a relatively good position to secure a group stage pass should they hold off the reigning champions of Mozambique.
While Bidvest Wits club owner, Jose Ferreira was earlier in the year quoted as saying the CAF Confederation Cup was not a priority for the club, coach Gavin Hunt will be looking at using the competition to further improve his impressive CV as a coach on the continent.
Having won four league titles, three with Supersport Untied and one with Bidvest Wits, the 53-year-old knows the pedigree a CAF title holds on a coach’s CV.
“We want to go to the group stage. I want to win and was brought into the club to win trophies, so every competition is important. We fighting way above our weight with the number of players we have.
“We have a squad of 21 while other teams have 35 but that has not stopped us” said Hunt speaking to the public broadcaster earlier this week.
Fixtures
SUNDAY
- Nairobi Bandari (Kenya) vs Horoya (Guinea) (2-4)
- Cairo Pyramids (Egypt) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (2-1)
- Nelspruit TS Galaxy (South Africa) vs Enyimba (Nigeria) (0-2)
- Abidjan San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire) vs Asante Kotoko (Ghana) (0-1)
- Algiers Paradou (Algeria) vs KCCA (Uganda) (0-0)
- Kinshasa Motema Pembe (DR Congo) vs Gor Mahia (Kenya) (1-1)
- Johannesburg Bidvest (South Africa) vs UD Songo (Mozambique) (2-1)
- Bamako Djoliba (Mali) vs Elect Sport (Chad) (1-0)
- Agadir HUSA (Morocco) vs Green Eagles (Zambia) (1-1)
- Lusaka Zanaco (Zambia) vs Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) (3-1)
- Berkane RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Fosa Juniors (Madagascar) (0-2)
- Alexandria El Masry (Egypt) vs Cote d’Or (Seychelles) (4-0)
- Enugu Rangers (Nigeria) vs ASC Kara (Togo) (1-2)
- Bulawayo Triangle (Zimbabwe) vs Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
TUESDAY
- Kampala Proline (Uganda) vs El Nasr (Libya) (2-2)
- Cotonou ESAE (Benin) vs Generation Foot (Senegal) (1-0)
CAF Confederation Cup
Owolabi Blames Overconfidence, Inexperience for Kwara United’s CAF Confederation Cup Exit
Former Nigeria international, Felix Owolabi, has attributed Kwara United’s elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup by Ghana’s Asante Kotoko to overconfidence and lack of technical depth on the bench.
Commenting after Kotoko’s 1-0 victory in Abeokuta on Sunday, which sealed a 5-3 aggregate win for the Ghanaian giants, the 1980 AFCON winner revealed that he had earlier warned officials of Kwara United about the quality and tactical strength of their opponents.
“Do you know that I was in Ghana for an assignment when I watched Asante Kotoko play in the finals of the FA Cup against Accra Hearts of Oak?” Owolabi said. “The game ended 2-1 in favour of Kotoko, and I heard the President of Ghana promise to support the team in their continental campaign.”
According to him, the Ghanaian leader’s commitment reflected a renewed determination to revive the fortunes of club football in Ghana.
“He said the days of poor showing by Ghanaian teams were over and was ready to back them financially,” Owolabi noted.
The former Shooting Stars star added that he had returned to Nigeria with insights that could have helped Kwara United prepare better.
“I told some of those close to the team that Kotoko’s full-backs and midfielders were their engine room, and they needed a tactical plan that would disorganise them for the entire 90 minutes,” he explained.
Owolabi said he also cautioned that the tie was far from over despite Kwara United’s earlier away goals advantage.
“I warned them not to take qualification for granted until the final whistle. Psychologically, the three away goals made them overconfident,” he said.
The former winger lamented that Kwara United lacked a “matured tactician” to handle such a delicate second leg.
“All they needed was an experienced hand on the bench — someone who understands the dynamics of continental football,” Owolabi added. “It’s unfortunate. Now, it’s like medicine after death.”
He concluded by urging Nigerian clubs to attach greater importance to technical preparedness and experience when representing the country in continental competitions.
“Football has become too dynamic. Even the areas you least expect surprises have become success zones,” he warned.
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Kwara United’s CAF Confederation Cup journey came to an abrupt end on Sunday following a 1–0 defeat to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
The slim victory handed the visitors a 5–3 aggregate triumph, sealing their progression to the next round of the continental competition and dashing the hopes of the Harmony Boys, who had entered the return leg needing only a 1–0 win to advance.
After losing a pulsating first leg 4–3 in Accra last weekend, Kwara United were banking on their three away goals to overturn the deficit.
However, Asante Kotoko displayed greater composure and tactical discipline in Abeokuta, frustrating the hosts for much of the contest.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half when the Ghanaians capitalised on a defensive lapse to grab the only goal of the game — a strike that effectively ended any comeback hopes for the Nigerian side.
Despite a spirited late push from the home team, Kotoko held firm, relying on their experience and solid defensive structure to preserve their advantage.
Kwara United’s head coach, Tunde Sanni, had promised an attacking approach, but his side found it difficult to break down a compact Kotoko backline that absorbed pressure and hit on the counter.
The result means the Ilorin-based club’s continental adventure has ended at the preliminary stage, while Asante Kotoko will now turn their focus to a blockbuster next round clash against Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca.
For Kwara United, the defeat marks a disappointing end to an otherwise promising campaign, but the team will take positives from their spirited away performance in Ghana and look to regroup for the upcoming domestic season.
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Nigeria’s Kwara United are brimming with confidence as they prepare to overturn a narrow first-leg deficit against Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in this Sunday’s decisive CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round clash at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
Despite falling 4–3 in a thrilling encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium last weekend, the Harmony Boys returned home with three valuable away goals — a major lifeline that keeps qualification firmly within reach.
A 1–0 or 2–1 win on home soil will be enough to see them through to the next stage.
In a show of intent, the team arrived early in Abeokuta on Monday to fine-tune tactical plans and acclimatize to the playing conditions ahead of the must-win tie.
Training sessions have been intense and focused, with emphasis on tightening the defence and improving finishing in front of goal.
Head coach Tunde Sanni expressed optimism that his players have learned from the first-leg experience, admitting that some key names failed to hit their stride in Accra.
“In that first leg, some of our top players could not come to the party,” Sanni remarked. “This time around, I pray that everybody plays very well so that we won’t concede. We have to beat them convincingly.”
The coach hinted at slight adjustments to his starting lineup but emphasized that the squad’s overall readiness and team spirit remain strong.
“At least one or two changes must be there, but we are set. We can play anybody. Everybody is ready now and understands what is at stake.”
While aware of the defensive risks, Sanni insisted that Kwara United would not compromise their attacking philosophy, which has become a trademark of the Ilorin-based club.
“We are an attacking team. We don’t play defensive football. We always look to attack while maintaining balance,” he added.
Although the team will be without the passionate backing of their Ilorin faithful, Sanni believes the Abeokuta pitch provides the right surface for his players to express themselves.
“Definitely, we’re going to miss our fans, but Abeokuta has a very good pitch, so we can play anywhere,” he noted. “It won’t be easy, but with hard work, we can get the result we need.”
A victory on Sunday would not only avenge last week’s defeat but also secure Kwara United a high-profile final-round clash against Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca — a fixture that would further underline the club’s growing stature in continental football.
For the Harmony Boys, the message is clear: attack with purpose, defend with discipline, and fight till the final whistle — as the journey to Africa’s group stage continues.
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