CAF Champions League
Remo Stars, Enyimba strive for a rare Nigeria 100% presence at CAF Inter club second round
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
CAF Champions League
Brazil’s Ribeiro Costa Gone, Rivalry Renewed: Mamelodi Sundowns Reshape Squad Before Remo Stars Showdown
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Mamelodi’s talismanic Brazilian player, Lucas Ribeiro Costa has made a sudden departure from the club which is well known for its Brazil-styled football attire. The departure of the player has forced a tactical reset at Sundowns ahead of the CAF Champions League second round clash with Remo Stars.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s champions, Remo Stars, are bracing up for a titanic CAF Champions League second-round showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa — a fixture that not only promises fireworks on the pitch but also rekindles one of African football’s most intense rivalries.
The first leg of the tie will take place in Abeokuta, the temporary home ground of Remo Stars with the return fixture scheduled for South Africa.
Sundowns, are continental heavyweights — former African champions and perennial campaigners known for their fluid attacking football.
However, the South Africans will enter this contest amid tactical reshuffling following the shock departure of Ribeiro, their Brazilian talisman and last season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Year.
New coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the impact of Ribeiro’s exit but insists the Tshwane-based side are evolving into a more unified team rather than relying on individual brilliance.
“No player will replace Lucas because that’s not what we are looking for,” Cardoso told reporters after Sundowns’ first league loss of the season.
“We are looking to reinforce the team and make it completely different. Ribeiro was unique, but now we must play more as a collective.”
Cardoso revealed that Sundowns have recruited Portuguese playmaker Nuno Santos from Vitória Guimarães and are closing in on another Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Reisinho, to enhance their creative options.
Despite this transition phase, the South African champions remain formidable, boasting one of the continent’s most technically balanced squads. Their clash with Nigeria’s Remo Stars — debutants in this elite stage — offers a fascinating contrast between experience and ambition.
Beyond the football itself, the fixture taps into a storied Nigeria–South Africa rivalry that has shaped African football narratives for decades — from national team duels at the Africa Cup of Nations to club-level battles in CAF competitions.
Matches between sides from both nations have often been fierce, emotionally charged, and symbolic of continental supremacy.
For Remo Stars, this encounter represents both a massive test and an opportunity to make a statement.
The Ikenne-based side, known for their youthful energy and tactical discipline, will aim to upset the odds against one of Africa’s richest and most accomplished clubs.
Their head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, is expected to lean on the attacking prowess of Adams Olamilekan and the creativity of Ebuka Anthony to breach Sundowns’ disciplined defence.
With pride, prestige, and progression on the line, all eyes will be on the two legs of this Nigeria–South Africa contest — a battle that goes beyond footballing tactics to touch the nerve of a continental rivalry steeped in passion and history.
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Rivers United have advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after defeating Les Aigles of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1–0 in the return leg on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Following a goalless stalemate in the first leg in Kinshasa, the Nigerian side sealed progression on a 1–0 aggregate scoreline, thanks to a first-half strike that proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
The win sends Rivers United into the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner of the tie between AC Léopards of Congo and Black Bulls of Mozambique.
With this result, Rivers United join Remo Stars in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
The next round is scheduled to hold between October 17 and 26, while the group stage kicks off in November
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Remo Stars have sealed their passage into the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after edging Comoros’ US Zilimadjou 1–0 in Abeokuta on Friday, completing an emphatic 5–0 aggregate victory.
Forward Alex Oyowah struck the decisive goal in the 74th minute, calmly converting from the penalty spot to settle the return leg at the MKO Abiola International Stadium.
With a four-goal cushion from the first leg in – courtesy of strikes from Lamine Ndenge, Ebuka Anthony, Adams Goïta and Seun Olasupo – coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s side approached the second leg tie with composure and tactical discipline.
Despite Zilimadjou’s spirited attempt to salvage pride, Remo Stars’ organisation off the ball ensured the visitors rarely threatened.
The Sky Blue Stars grew in confidence as the game wore on, controlling possession and protecting their clean sheet before Oyowah’s late strike put the result beyond doubt.
The Nigerian side will now brace for a tougher test in October when they meet South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in what promises to be one of the glamour fixtures of the next round.
Other return-leg fixtures across the continent are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with the full line-up for the second preliminary round to be confirmed thereafter.
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