CAF Confederation Cup
MBAOMA, ENYIMBA’S NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Gone were the days when Nigeria hopeful Enyimba were one of the most-feared teams on the continent to the same extent that the People’s Elephants were successively crowned continental champions in 2003 and 2004.
The Aba-based side have struggled ever since much more so in the on-going continental cup campaign since they flattered to deceive in the Total CAF Champions League after posting a 5-1 aggregate win over Rahimo FC of Burkina Faso, Enyimba lost 1-0 on aggregate to Al Hilal of Sudan to drop off into the play-off for the Total CAF Confederation Cup.
Though, they did spank South Africa’s second division side TS Galaxy 4-1 on aggregate to secure their berth in the Confederation Cup mini-league group stage, Enyimba have recorded a loss and a win in two matches following that 2-0 away defeat to Hassania Agadir on MatchDay 1 and that hard-fought 1-0 home win against San Pedro on MatchDay 2.
As the mini-league reaches halfway mark on MatchDay 3, three-point Enyimba are second on the log in Group D behind Hassania Agadir of Morocco, who have six points, while Algerian debutants Paradou and San Pedro of Cote d’Ivoire are both in the rear with one point each.
However, Enyimba striker Victor Mbaoma reckons his side must avoid defeat against the ‘Blue and Yellow’ on Sunday in Blida.
“Our expectation against Paradou is to win because if we need to qualify from this group for the quarter finals, we need to win our matches henceforth,” the Enyimba Number 25 said in an interview with CAFOnline.com
“We have lost one and won one of the previous two matches; this is our third match in the group stage and we can’t afford to lose again. We just have to win so that it can enhance our chances of qualifying from this difficult group.”
The 23-year-old forward, recruited from Nigerian top flight side Remo Stars at the start of the season, is regarded as one of his side’s outstanding players this term.
“We have a lot of quality players and I’m really happy because being here has really helped me personally; it has helped me to grow as a person and as a player.”
But this is not Mbaoma’s debut on the continent after his four goals for Akwa United in the Uyo-based side’s ill-fated campaign in the 2018 Total CAF Confederation Cup, where they exited in the penultimate round before the group stage.
“The experience has been very good,” surmise Victor whose surname, Mbaoma, means ‘good man’ in his native Abia State in Eastern Nigeria.
“I’m grateful to be able to play at the continental level again; and it has really helped my game and exposed me as a player.
“My best moment so far in this Total CAF Confederation Cup was scoring against TS Galaxy at home in Aba as well as when we qualified for the group stage.
“In the Nigerian league, it was when I scored twice against Adamawa United because it boosted my confidence to go for the top scorer of the season; and this has really strengthened me,” he said.
Yet for Mbaoma, it’s not a question of how good he is currently but how good he wants to be as he models his fledging career after Portuguese great, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“My footballing hero has always been Cristiano Ronaldo simply because he loves to win and score goals,” Mbaoma said with an unmistakable clarity.
“I always like to watch him and you can see that he’s not always happy when he doesn’t score goals. I try to emulate such a great player because I love to score goals too.”
Fixtures
Group A
SUNDAY
- Alexandria Al Masry (Egypt) vs Pyramids (Egypt)
- Mauritania Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs Enugu Rangers (Nigeria)
Group B
SUNDAY
- Conakry Horoya (Guinea) vs Djoliba (Mali)
- Johannesburg Bidvest (South Africa) vs El Nasr (Libya)
Group C
SUNDAY
- Porto Novo ESAE (Benin) vs Zanaco (Zambia)
- Berkane RS Berkane (Morocco) vs Motema Pembe (DR Congo)
Group D
SUNDAY
- Blida Paradou (Algeria) vs Enyimba (Nigeria)
- Abidjan San Pedro (Cote d’Ivoire) vs HUSA (Morocco)
Moroccan side, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane secured a third continental title after drawing against Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club (2-0 in the first leg, 1-1 in the return).
Moroccan football’s representatives had the privilege of being the first to lift the new CAF trophy.
It is the fifth time they have played the final match of the competition, and they were successful in 2020 and 2022. In the return leg of the final match this Sunday, Berkane overcame challenges put in their way ahead of the match at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match got off to a flying start, with the hosts dominating, determined to open the scoring in the opening minutes of play. Once again, Berkane retreated into defence, a far cry from the spirit displayed in the first leg.
It took about fifteen minutes for Mouine Chaâbani’s men to truly get into the game.
While they launched their first dangerous attack, a missed opportunity in front of the opposing goal cost them dearly. On the ensuing counterattack, Simba’s Zambian striker, Joshua Mutale, beat goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi in the 17th minute.
The second half resumed with the same intensity, but the tension rose, especially after Simba attacking midfielder Yusuph Kagoma was sent off for a second yellow card.
Berkane then took a numerical advantage and regained control of the game.
Stung to the quick, the home side continued to engage in skirmishes, but without any real threat to goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi.
Yet, even with ten men down, Simba’s players gave the Berkanis a hard time, posing several threats.
Deliverance finally came in the 93rd minute thanks to Mamadou Lamine Camara, who scored the equaliser, in a closely contested duel, in a packed stadium, and under the eyes of Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the FRMF, as well as Walid Regragui, national coach.
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RS Berkane head coach Moine Chaabani says his side is fully focused and prepared for Sunday’s second leg of the Confederation Cup final against Tanzania’s Simba SC, as they seek to secure a third continental title.
The Moroccan club takes a 2-0 lead into the return leg at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar following an early double from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui in the first leg in Berkane.
Speaking ahead of the crucial clash, Chaabani emphasized that his players have left nothing to chance.
“We are focused on the match, and we must adapt to all circumstances, no matter how difficult,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“We came here to play a 90-minute match, and there is no room for distraction.”
The Tunisian tactician, who led the team to last year’s final only to suffer defeat against Zamalek, underlined the hunger within the squad to go one step further this time.
“We have worked hard since that disappointment, and today we are even more determined to win the title and bring the cup back to Morocco.”
RS Berkane will be boosted by the availability of key players Haitham Manout and Paul Valery, although final decisions on their involvement will be made after the last training session.
“All players are present. The decision on their participation will depend on their readiness,” he added.
Chaabani also pointed to his side’s growing experience in navigating difficult African environments, saying they are mentally conditioned for the high-stakes occasion.
“We have a strong immune system to handle these conditions, and we will manage our physical effort according to the match’s progress,” he said.
“We hope to rise to the occasion and succeed in pleasing the Berkane fans, who always support us, to win the title.”
The return leg kicks off at 13:00 GMT on Sunday. A draw or even a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin will be enough for Berkane to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup trophy.
-CAF
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Following a 2-0 win for RS Berkane over Simba SC in the first leg of the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in Berkane, Morocco, attention will turn to the return fixture on the island of Zanzibar this Sunday.
The match will be played at Amaan Stadium at 16h00 local time (13h00 GMT) and will be live across all CAF’s broadcast partners, including Azam Media, beIN Sport, Canal+, SuperSport, SABC and several other global platforms.
RS Berkane go to the second leg with the advantage after early goals from Mamadou Camara and Oussama Lamlaoui at home, but Simba SC have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this campaign and will be confident of overturning the deficit.
The winners of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup will be awarded a new trophy that will be unveiled later this week.
CAF and host club Simba SC are working closely together to ensure that the event in Zanzibar is a success.
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