CAF Confederation Cup
Scary as Nigeria’s ‘Uniteds’ hope to avert 11 North African clubs in CAF Confederation bye draw today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s duo eliminated Champions League hopefuls, Rivers United and Plateau United will begin new lives in the continental second tie league, the Confederation Cup.
The two are among the projected 16 losing teams of the second round of the CAF Champions League. The only undecided fixture is the of Rail Club Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) and AS Vita Club (DR Congo).
All of them will be involved in the draw for the play-off for the Group Stage of the CAF Confederation Cup holding today in Cairo.
With North West African teams being the albatross of the four Nigerian clubs in the continent this year, both Rivers United and Plateau United will be hoping to avoid the Maghreb teams.
However, there are 11 North African teams in the additional second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Among them are the Moroccan duo of ASFAR and RS Berkane who used Nigerian teams as lunch pads to the new draw.
Also among the North African teams to be feared are Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya, US Monastir of Tunisia, USMA of Algeria), Pyramids FC of Egypt, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and El Nasr of Libya.
Other North African clubs in the draw are Future FC of Egypt, Club Africain of Tunisia), and Al Akhder of Libya.
Below is the full list of teams of CAF Champions League Losing teams:
- Rivers United FC (Nigeria)
- Plateau United FC (Nigeria)
- TP Mazembe (DR Congo),
- ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Djoliba AC (Mali)
- Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya),
- CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)
- Royal Leopards (Eswatini)
- Rail Club Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) OR AS Vita Club (DR Congo),
- ASN Nigelec (Niger)
- US Monastir (Tunisia)
- La Passe FC (Seychelles)
- ASKO de Kara (Togo),
- Flambeau du Centre (Burundi)
- Cape Town CFC (South Africa)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
CAF Confederation Cup Winning teams:
- USMA (Algeria)
- RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Pyramids FC (Egypt)
- CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
- El Nasr (Libya)
- Club Africain (Tunisia)
- DCMP (DR Congo)
- SC Gagnoa (Cote d’Ivoire)
- AS Real Bamako (Mali)
- Al Akhder (Libya)
- Royal AM FC (South Africa)
- St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
- Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
- ASFAR (Morocco)
- Future FC (Egypt)
- Diables Noirs (Congo)
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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