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CAF Champions League

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: TITANIC BATTLE OF FORMER CHAMPIONS

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Time has come for the vital knockout stages of the continent’s premier club competition, with eight former champions battling for the Holy Grail of African club football.

The 2019-20 CAF Champions League quarterfinals kickoff this weekend, with four first leg games scheduled over Friday and Saturday. Egyptian capital Cairo and Morocco’s Casablanca will be the venue this weekend, with back to back games on the infamous Cairo International Stadium and Mohamed V Complex respectively.

The return legs are scheduled in seven days, with aggregate winners reaching the last four, continuing their way to continental glory.

Zamalek (Egypt) v Esperance (Tunisia)

(Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, 28.02.2020 – 16:00 GMT)

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A couple of weeks after locking horns in the 2020 CAF Super Cup, giants Zamalek and Esperance renew their rivalry when they face in Cairo.

Zamalek emerged 3-1 victorious in Doha, Qatar on 14 February to claim their fourth CAF Super Cup title and cement Esperance’s jinx in the annual one match playoff. But the titleholders will seek revenge in the most prestigious Champions League.

With nine titles between them (five for Zamalek, one less for Esperance), this is going to be a battle of titans on the pitch.

Zamalek’s French coach Patrice Carteron knows it well when continental football is concerned, having won CAF titles with TP Mazembe, Raja Casablanca before tasting the same glory with Zamalek. On the other hand Moine Chaabani led Esperance to the Champions League title in the previous couple of seasons, setting himself among the continent’s most successful managers.

Zamalek will be counting on expatriates like Tunisian Ferjani Sassi and Moroccan Achraf Bencharki, while Esperance will seek brilliance in the form of Libyan Hamdou Elhouni and experienced Taha Yassine Khenissi.

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Raja Casablanca (Morocco) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

(Mohamed V Complex, Casablanca, 28.02.2020 – 19:00 GMT)

The two former champions have many things in common. Both have lifted the CAF Champions League trophy more than once (five times for Mazembe, three for Raja), both went to win numerous CAF competitions, and both finished the FIFA Club World Cup as runner ups; the best African achievement in the global competition (Mazembe in 2010, Raja in 2013).

Moreover, both sides’ coaches have been previous players, and even won the CAF Champions League title with their clubs. Jamel Sellami was one of Raja’s winning squad members in 1997, while Pamphile Mihayo led Mazembe to the title in 2009 and 2010.

It’s their second encounter in Champions League history after a group stage meeting in 2002 where each side enjoyed a home victory.

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Raja will be counting on their charismatic skipper Badr Banoun and inform striker Soufiane Rahimi, while Mazembe needs their talismanic striker and the tournament’s top scorer Jackson Muleka to be in his day to snatch an away positive result that could help their cause.

Al Ahly (Egypt) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

(Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, 29.02.2020 – 16:00 GMT)

There’s no talk inside the Cairo Red Devils castle but the awaited encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns.

 Despite beating the Pretoria side to win the title in 2001, Al Ahly faced a nightmare last season when they conceded their worst defeat in their continental history, losing 5-0 to The Brazilians at the very same stage.

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Since the draw was conducted, Al Ahly faithful supporters are seeking revenge for their side who are still chasing a record extending ninth Champions League title, one that’s eluding them since 2013.

Meanwhile, Sundowns who settled themselves as one of the continent’s big guns in recent years after bagging their maiden Champions League titles in 2016 are hoping for yet another shock in the premier club competition.

Ahly’s Swiss coach Rene Weiler, who settled his way well in the domestic Egyptian Premier League with 16 consecutive wins this season, knows well that the Champions League title is the club’s first priority.

But to continue his side’s campaign he needs to overcome resistance from one of the continent’s best coaches in recent times in the form of Pitso Mosimane.

Nigeria’s Junior Ajayi and Tunisian Ali Maaloul are Ahly’s men to watch, while Sundowns will have their South American flavor in the form of Brazilian Ricardo Nascimento and Uruguayan Gaston Sirino among others.

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Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) v Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)

(Mohamed V Complex, Casablanca, 29.02.2020 – 19:00 GMT)

This might be their first CAF Champions League encounter between Wydad and Etoile, but both sides are former champions (twice for Wydad, once for Etoile) and seasonal campaigners.

 They faced twice in other CAF competitions with Etoile emerging as aggregate winners in both occasions.

Ironically, Wydad will enter the game led by Etoile’s former coach. Spaniard Juan Carlos Garrido was sacked by Etoile earlier this month, and he was revealed as Wydad coach following the departure of Sebastien Desabre just 72 hours before the scheduled encounter against his former side.

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His successor and Etoile’s former player Kais Zouaghi will be his opponent this weekend.

Wydad will hope their Congolese striker Kazadi Kasengu will continue his goal scoring form, while Etoile are backing on their Algerian forward and top scorer Karim Aribi to lead their side to an away positive result.

-CAF

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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CAF Champions League

Sundowns Crush Remo Stars to Seal CAF Champions’ League Group Stage Spot

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Nigeria’s flagbearers, Remo Stars, have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League after suffering another defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, who completed a 7–1 aggregate rout on Sunday afternoon in Pretoria.

The outcome was never really in doubt following the Nigerian champions’ 1–5 loss at home in the first leg in Ikenne last week. The return fixture at Loftus Versfeld Stadium only confirmed the inevitable, as the reigning South African champions sealed qualification to the lucrative group stage with a routine 2–0 win.

Goals from Portuguese forward Nuno Santos in the 20th minute and Namibian talisman Peter Shalulile just before halftime ensured that the “Brazilians,” as Sundowns are fondly called, advanced with ease. The result left Remo Stars outclassed and out of Africa’s elite competition at the second qualifying hurdle.

Despite resting several first-team players, coach Miguel Cardoso’s men showed their depth and intent, dominating proceedings from start to finish. Captain Ronwen Williams and veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango anchored a disciplined backline, while Shalulile’s strike underlined his lethal form and cemented his reputation as one of the continent’s most consistent scorers.

Remo Stars made some attacking forays in the second half, but their efforts lacked precision and composure in the final third. The defeat, though painful, marks another learning curve for the Ikenne-based side in only their second appearance in continental competition.

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With fellow South African club Orlando Pirates failing to reach the group stage, Sundowns will now fly their country’s flag alone as they aim for another deep run in the tournament, having finished as runners-up last season.

The draw for the CAF Champions’ League group stage will be held next Monday in Johannesburg, where other African heavyweights will be hoping to avoid a date with the free-scoring Sundowns.

For Remo Stars, attention will now turn to the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs — a second chance to continue their continental adventure.

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CAF Champions League

Remo Stars Hope Against Hope in Near-impossible Task in Pretoria

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Remo Stars head coach, Tiago Conde, says his team remains hopeful of pulling off a football miracle when they face African Football League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the second leg of their CAF Champions League second-round clash on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The Nigerian champions are staring at a near-impossible task after last Sunday’s 5–1 home defeat in Ikenne, meaning they would need to beat the South African giants 5–0 away to qualify for the lucrative group stage.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Saturday, Conde insisted that his players are not in South Africa merely to make up the numbers.

“Now we’ll look to make the necessary corrections and improve — to be more efficient, more balanced, and better aligned with the demands of a true Champions League game,” he said.

Despite the heavy deficit, the Portuguese tactician remains defiant and optimistic.

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“If my players and I were not prepared or believe that we can win and score five goals and go to the group stage, there is no point in being here,” Conde told Pan Africa Football.

“We trust and believe we can do it. Of course, it’s difficult, but we’ll also make it difficult for Mamelodi Sundowns to score another five goals. It’s 11 against 11 for 90 minutes — we know it’s hard work.”

Conde added that his team had worked on fixing their shortcomings from the first leg.

“What we prepared and want to do is what we tried to do in the first leg, though some things did not happen. Now we’re trying to correct those things and be more effective and balanced — that’s what a Champions League game demands.”

Remo Stars defender Ahmed Akinyele echoed his coach’s optimism, stressing that the team has learned from their mistakes and is ready to fight.

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“Like the coach said, we’re here to compete with focus, determination, and the drive to do better than we did in the first leg. We’re ready to give our best and keep improving as a team.”

While overturning a four-goal deficit against one of Africa’s most dominant sides appears highly unlikely, Remo Stars’ spirit of defiance underscores their ambition to leave a mark, regardless of the outcome in Pretoria.

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CAF Champions League

Rivers Flow into CAF Champions’ League Group Stage as First Nigerian Team in Nine Years

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Rivers United have made history by becoming the first Nigerian club since 2016 to qualify for the CAF Champions’ League group stage, following a commanding 3–1 victory over Mozambique’s Black Bulls on Saturday in Uyo.

The result saw the Pride of Rivers progress 3–2 on aggregate, overturning a 1–0 first-leg deficit suffered in Maputo last weekend.

Rivers United began with intent and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Wasiu Falolu opened the scoring to level the tie.

Their dominance continued, and just before half-time, Maclyn Biokpo converted from the penalty spot to make it 2–0, putting the Nigerian side ahead on aggregate.

However, the visitors reignited their hopes early in the second half as Moctar Diallo pulled one back for the Black Bulls — a goal that temporarily put pressure on the home side, who faced possible elimination via the away-goal rule.

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Rivers United, undeterred, regained their rhythm and sealed victory in the 76th minute when Timothy Zachariah fired in a stunning effort to restore the two-goal cushion and secure a 3–1 win on the night.

The triumph marks a significant milestone for Nigerian club football, as Rivers United become the first team from the country to reach the Champions’ League group stage since Enyimba International achieved the feat nine years ago.

The Port Harcourt-based side will now await the draw for the group stage as they continue their quest for continental glory.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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