CAF Confederation Cup
‘BIG ELEPHANT’ ENYIMBA CRASHES AT AHLY BENGHAZI TO THROW OPEN CONFEDERATION CUP GROUP
Libya’s Ahly Benghazi guaranteed Group A of CAF Confederation Cup will go to the wire at the final match day, defeating Nigeria’s Enyimba 1-0 on Thursday night.
A win for visitors Enyimba could have settled the group, just like the case in all three other groups. But Ahly’s win meant action will continue in the final matchday next Wednesday.
At Benina Martyrs stadium in Benghazi, Ahly pushed from the first minute, aiming for maximum points that would give them hope of reaching the quarterfinals.
But they had to wait till the 40th minute to take the lead through Mutassim El Taib.
The Libyan right winger received Aboubakr Meeld pass and sent a powerful shot past Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble to give his side a deserved lead.
After the break, Enyimba threw everything in attack looking for the equalizer, but Benghazi’s goalkeeper Murad Alweehi came to his side’s rescue in several occasions.
Enyimba had to finish the game with ten men, with Timothy Danladi received his marching orders after 75 minutes.
Thanks to this victory, Ahly Benghazi rose to Group A second place on 7 points, two less than group leaders Orlando Pirates. Enyimba follows with six points while Algeria’s ES Setif trails the group with five.
With all four sides still hopeful of a place in the quarterfinals draw set for Friday 30 April, the final matchday next Wednesday sees Enyimba taking on Orlando Pirates in Aba, while ES Setif welcomes Ahli Benghazi in Setif.
Zamalek commenced their CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 1-0 win over Kenya’s Police in the initial leg of the second preliminary round held in Nairobi this Saturday.
Veteran winger Abdallah El-Saied secured the win for the Whites with a precise strike from outside the box just a minute before halftime.
The Cairo giants, winners of the 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup title, started the match with relentless pressure on the hosts to clinch victory in the first leg and alleviate pressure before the upcoming return fixture in Cairo next Friday.
“The most important thing for us was to win and achieve our target,” Zamalek coach Gomes said after the game.
Hosts Police FC of Kenya could not breach Zamalek’s resolute defense in search of an equalizer.
Despite notable summer acquisitions, Zamalek’s coach Jose Gomes opted for a standard lineup, integrating young talents in lieu of seasoned players.
“We are now stronger than the previous season, thanks to spending more time with the team and preparing to play in the tournaments that we will participate in,” the Portuguese coach added.
Conversely, Kenya’s Police FC squandered a clear scoring opportunity against Zamalek, missing a crucial chance fifteen minutes before the final whistle, dashing hopes of leveling the score.
Kenya’s Police FC earned their place in this round following a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia Coffee SC.
-Ahram
Nigeria’s Enyimba played a thrilling 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round tie in Bamako on Friday.
There have been three previous confrontation with Burkina Faso teams and this Friday encounter was the second time that Enyimba had had to face Etoile Filante.
According to facts supplied by Opta Nigeria, Etoile Filante were Enyimba’s first ever opponent on the continent 22 years ago in March 2002. Ever since, Enyimba have played 157 times on the continent; the highest by any Nigerian club.
Enyimba carry their advantage to the return leg to be played on 22 September.
Nigeria’s sole survivors in the CAF Confederation Cup,Enyimba will face Burkina Faso sides, Etoile de Filante in the second round of the competition.
Enyimba drew bye in the preliminary round while the Burkina Faso team reached the second round after eliminating Hafia of Guinea.
Enyimba, second runners-up in the Nigerian League will be attempting to win the Confederation Cup for the first time for Nigeria as they did in the Champions League 21 years ago.
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