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CAF Champions League

Remo Stars, Enyimba strive for a rare Nigeria 100% presence at CAF Inter club second round

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Eyes are on Nigeria’s duo of Enyimba and Remo Stars as both strive to turn around their first leg away slim losses in the opening round of the CAF Champions League this Sunday.

Should both scale through into the next round, it will be the first time in many seasons that Nigeria will have a full attendance of its quartet teams advancing into the penultimate round to the group stages of both the Champions League and Confederation Cup League.

Both Bendel Insurance and Rivers United are already in the next round of Confederation Cup.

In the more challenging Champions League, Remo Stars at home will face Ghana’s Medeama SC in the return leg of Round One after losing 1-0 last Sunday in Cape Coast.

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They will need a two goal margin to advance. Alternatively, should they win by one unreplied goal, they have the lottery of penalty shoot-out to contend with.

But the club is set to avert any possible heartache. Head technical, Tiago Conde noted that only the first half of the fixture had been played and that the second half is what will unfold in Ikenne this Sunday.

The Portuguese is optimistic of Remo Stars scaling into the next round to face Guinea’s Horoya.

Joining him in the optimism is Remo Stars captain, Nduka Junior who pointed at last Sunday’s second half performance of Remo Stars as an indication of what fans should expect this Sunday.

In Aba, the odds greatly weigh in favour Enyimba whose three away goals become very valuable. A 1-0 win sees them through into the next round as they hope to dispatch Libya’s Al Ahli Benghazi.

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Coach Finidi George has maintained a positive outlook ahead of the match which kicks off at the Enyimba Stadium at 3pm Nigerian time.

“We are sad that we lost the first leg game after a great performance from the boys. It could have easily ended in a draw but for that late goal we conceded.

“I must commend the players for putting up a great fight against a very formidable home team. The crowd was also intimidating but our players did not let that affect them.

“Of course, there are areas that we must improve upon, but looking at the game generally, I see more positives than negatives.

Enyimba captain, Olorunleke Ojo has called on fans of the club to come in large numbers to support the club against Al Ahli Benghazi on Sunday, at the Enyimba Stadium.

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Ojo said the team needs the support of fans to spur them to victory against the Libyans, in a game the People’s Elephants must win.

“All we need is support, togetherness and unity. We are not giving up. We are going to win, that is for sure. We are going to qualify. I believe in everyone of us.”

The Super Eagles goalkeeper noted that the team would be in top shape, physically and mentally in order to achieve their aim of making it to the next round of the CAF Champions League.

“Before the next game, we would have corrected all the mistakes and would have rested well. We are going to come out good in the second leg on Sunday.”

Enyimba returns to Aba, where they have won two games on the continent under Finidi George and Ojo is confident that the fans in Aba will replicate the support the Libyan side got in Benghazi.

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“Our fans will do the same. If we can get that support, nothing will stop us. Individually we are going to sit up. All we need is support.”

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.

CAF Champions League

VIDEO: Controversial penalty kick remains a talking point in Remo Stars’ elimination

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Benin Republic’s Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali awarded a 78th minute penalty kick that sealed Remo Stars hopes.

But for the questionable penalty kick awarded for AS FAR of Morocco in the 78th minute of the tension-soaked CAF Champions League duel with Remo Stars on Sunday in Rabat, the complexion of the final result as well as the aggregate scorelines may have been different.

Match scoreline stood at 1-1 before the referee, Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali of Benin Republic, who was midway to the centre circle suddenly blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick to the hosts.

Before then, all body contacts had been ruled against Remo Stars. Even, the Moroccans looked amused when the referee, who was off the scene suddenly ran into the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick for an incident, even if  it were an infraction, happened outside the penalty box.

The award of the penalty kick and the conversion by El Amine Zouhzouh, literaly sealed Remo Stars thin hope of advancing.

The Nigerian side left it too late as they only came out to attack after their hopes had been sealed.

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In starting the crucial match, their lead scorer, Sikiru Alimi and assist master, Sodiq Ismail were brought in only after the damage had been done. It was after the first goal in the 51st minute that Alimi was brought in in the 54th minute.

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CAF Champions League

Enugu Rangers to face Angolan sides, G.D. Sagrada Esperança

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Nigeria’s champions, Enugu Rangers have been drawn against Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança of Angola in the next round of the CAF Champions League.

The fixtures come up next month with Enugu Rangers hosting the first leg on 13 September.

The return leg holds on 20 September. Enugu Rangers advanced after eliminating Comoros Islands’ US Zilimadjou.

Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança better known as G.D. Sagrada Esperança advanced after seeing off Saint-Louis Suns United of Seychelles on a 4-0 aggregate.

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CAF Champions League

Giants progress in CAF Champions League

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The first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League reached its climax on Sunday, with several heavyweight clubs securing their passage to the next stage of Africa’s premier club competition. 

In a difficult turnaround, AS FAR Rabat of Morocco overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Nigeria’s Remo Stars, winning 2-0 in Rabat.

Congolese striker Joël Beya broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, before Zouhzouh sealed the victory with a penalty in the 80th minute, propelling the Moroccan side into the second preliminary round.

Algeria’s CR Bélouizdad continued their impressive form, securing a 1-0 victory over AC Léopards of Congo, thanks to a 24th-minute strike from Benguit.

This win, following their 2-0 first-leg triumph, sets up an intriguing clash with Burkina Faso’s AS Douanes in the next round.

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AS Douanes progressed on away goals after two draws against Benin’s Coton FC, highlighting the fine margins in continental competition.

Ghana’s Samartex emphatically stamped their authority on their tie against Cameroon’s Victoria United, winning 1-0 at home to complete a 2-0 aggregate victory.

Isaac Afful’s 8th-minute goal extinguished any hopes of a Cameroonian comeback, setting up a mouth-watering second-round clash with African giants Raja Casablanca.

In other notable results, Cote d’Ivoire champions San Pedro edged past Sierra Leone’s BO Rangers with a 1-0 win, while Congo’s AS Maniema Union held their nerve to defeat Zimbabwe’s Ngezi Platinum on penalties after two goalless draws.

Togo’s ASKO Kara also progressed, beating Equatorial Guinea’s Deportivo Mongomo 1-0 thanks to an early goal from new signing Adam Musah.

However, the day was not without its upsets. FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania, surprise participants in last season’s group stage, were eliminated on away goals by Guinea’s Milo FC.

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The second preliminary round promises even more excitement, with matches scheduled from September 13 to 15 for the first legs, and September 23 to 25 for the return fixtures. 

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