CAF Champions League
ENYIMBA KNOW FATE IN CAF CONFEDERATION CUP DRAW
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
The path to the final matches of both the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup will be drawn today at the October 6, satellite city to Cairo in Egypt.
Enyimba, Nigeria’s last team standing in international club competitions this season, will know their quarterfinal opponents and subsequent oppositions if they continue to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Nigeria entered four teams for the continent’s inter-club tournaments. Kano Pillars, last season’s runners-up in the topflight domestic league and Federation Cup winners, were eliminated at the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, while Niger Tornadoes, Federation Cup finalists, crashed out at the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Enyimba, who won the domestic league last season and were therefore registered for the elite Champions League, could not go beyond the first round as Sudan’s Al-Hilal triumphed 1-0 aggregate. The Nigerian champions thereafter continued their international journey from the play-off phase of the second-tier Confederation Cup.
The People’s Elephant joined Rangers in that competition and both of them made it to the group stage. Rangers had placed third in the domestic league last season to be registered for the Confederation Cup.
Rangers however left their chase for a quarterfinal place rather too late and could only end up as No 3 in Group A, while Enyimba were runners up in Group D.
Enyimba’s potential opponents in the quarterfinal will be drawn from a pool of two north African teams and a fellow West African opposition, namely Pyramids FC (Egypt), RS Berkane (Morocco) and Horoya (Guinea).
Cairo-based Pyramids eliminated more illustrious opponents in only their first time in the continent. If they are pitched against Enyimba, it will be the second trip to Nigeria for the Egyptian side who shocked Rangers 1-3 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Matchday 1 of the group stage. Although Rangers avenged themselves with a lone goal win in Cairo, that result was not enough to see the Flying Antelopes through to the last eight.
Berkane, who got to the final of this competition last season in their debut international outing, topped Group B this term, losing only to DR Congo’s Daring Club Motema Pembe by a lone goal. The Moroccan side had accounted for the exit of Ghananian club Ashanti Gold, and Fosa Juniors of Madagascar en-route the group phase.
Horoya, on their part, started this season in the Champions League, just like Enyimba. They defeated Mali’s Stade Malien 2-1 aggregate in the preliminary round. But the Guineans lost by penalty shootouts to JS Kabylie of Algeria in the first round to drop to the playoff round of the Confederation Cup where they beat Kenya’s Bandari FC 4-2 overall.
The 1978 African Cup Winners Cup champions then got pitched in Group C alongside Libya’s Al-Nasry, Djoliba of Mali and South Africa’s Bidvest Wits. Horoya won four and drew the remaining two of their matches to ease themselves into the quarterfinals.
The other teams in the CAF Confederation quarterfinals draw include Hassania Agadir, who topped Group D from where Enyimba emerged. There are also Al-Masry SC (Egypt), Zanaco FC (Zambia) and Al-Nasr SC (Libya), all group runners-up.
Enyimba’s qualification for the knockout stages as well as Rangers reaching the group stage of the Confederation Cup may save Nigeria from the experience of 2018 when the country’s entry for both the Champions League and Confederation was reduced from two to one team each.
In the 2017/18 season, for instance, Nigeria entered four teams – Plateau United and MFM for the Champions League, and Enyimba and Akwa United for the Confederation Cup – but only Enyimba reached the group stage.
Shooting Stars (1976), Rangers (1977) and BCC Lions (1990, also runners-up the following year) won the then African Cup Winners Cup, which evolved into the Confederation Cup with the merger of the CAF Cup in 2004.
Other Nigerian clubs that graced the final of either the CAF Confederation Cup or the African Cup Winners Cup included the now defunct Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt (2005), Julius Berger FC of Lagos (2003 and 1995), Esan FC (now Bendel Insurance) in 1989, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna (1988), Ibadan-based Leventis United (1985) and Stationery Stores of Lagos (1981).
Fixtures for the quarterfinals of this season’s CAF Champions League will also be unveiled. North Africa dominates the field having produced all but two of the teams that survived the group stage.
Challenging Tunisia’s Espérance for a third title on the bounce are record title holders Al-Ahly of Egypt, who have won it eight times. Both sides may go head-to-head as they are in separate pots and never met at the group stage.
Others TP Mazembe (DR Congo) and Zamalek (Egypt), both five-time champions.
Also in the cast are Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Raja Casablanca (Morocco) and Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia), completing the list of past winners.
The first leg of the CAF Champions League will hold on February 28 and 29 with the reverse fixtures a week later.
In the Confederation Cup, the games will be on March 1 (first leg) and March 8 (second leg).
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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