CAF Confederation Cup
Three Nigerian clubs in crucial 90-minute duels in North Africa
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Rivers United, Plateau United and Bayelsa Queens all have the same mission tonight in North Africa.
The trio seek major victories against their hosts.
While Bayelsa Queens face a formidable opposition in AS FAR ladies of Morocco in their quest for the final of the Women’s Champions League, the duo of Rivers United and Plateau United have a leg each into the group stage of the Confederations Cup group stage.
The two men’s clubs are in Libya, hoping to complete the work they started in Nigeria at the weekend.
Plateau United will begin Nigeria’s triple assault as they face Al Akhdar in Libya at about 4pm Nigerian time. They are assured of sailing through if they don’t concede up to a three goal margin.
They won the first leg 4-1 in Abuja. At 8pm, Rivers United will be up against Al Nasr that they defeated 5-0 in Port Harcourt. Except the unexpected happens, they are assured of a place in the next next round.
It is Bayelsa United that face the most Herculean task of overcoming AS FAR in Rabat. The match comes up at 9pm
Confederations Cup Play-off fixtures (Time in GMT)
13h00
Marumo Gallants – Al Ahly Tripoli (0-1)
14h00
CS Sfaxien – ASKO (1-2)
St Eloi Lupopo – RC Kadiogo (1-0)
14h30
Diables Noirs – La Passe (2-0)
15h00
Al Akhdar – Plateau United (1-4)
16h00
Club Africain – Yanga (0-0)
Future – Primeiro Agosto (1-1)
Real Bamako – Royal Leopards (1-1)
SC Gagnoa – ASEC (0-2)
17h00
Pyramids – AS Nigelec (0-1)
Royal AM – TP Mazembe (0-2)
USM Alger – Cape Town City (0-0)
18h00
Motema Pembe – Flambeau du Centre (1-0)
19h00
Al Nasr – Rivers United (0-5)
Berkane – US Monastir (0-1)
FAR Rabat – Djoliba (0-0)
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.
Many fans risk missing 2026 World Cup as Visa window for visitors is closing
Nigeria’s Victor Olatunji becomes third African scoring debutant in Uefa Champions League
Lagos sports writers mourn Adeyinka Adebayo
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
AIU releases its report on Tobi Amusan
-
AFCON1 week agoSuper Eagles lead Afcon Group D qualifiers despite Benin’s defeat of Libya
-
AFCON1 week agoAustin Eguavoen remains the ‘Big Boss’, says NFF
-
AFCON1 week agoWhy I benched Osimhen again – Eguavoen
-
AFCON1 week agoRwanda newspaper gives 5 lessons gleaned from Rwanda-Nigeria clash
-
Nigerian Football1 week agoWesterhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
-
AFCON1 week agoNigeria’s managerial crisis resumes as Eguavoen reportedly declines to continue
-
AFCON1 week agoPresent and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
-
CAF Confederation Cup6 days agoEnyimba continues unbeaten run against Burkina Faso clubs