CAF Confederation Cup

Dreams FC dreams coming true? … secure goalless draw against Zamalek in Cairo

Published

4 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Ghana’s team in the CAF Confederation Cup, Dreams FC, is living up to their name. The continental debutants are indeed dreaming dreams. If this is a dream, please don’t wake them up. They have just upset one of the powerhouses in Africa.

The Egyptian giants Zamalek failed to make their dominance count as they were held to a goalless draw by Dreams FC in the first leg of their Confederation Cup semi-final in Cairo on Sunday.

The White Knights enjoyed the better of the chances in Cairo but lacked a cutting edge in the final third against their well-organised opponents.

Portuguese coach Jose Gomes will be concerned by his side’s profligacy ahead of next Sunday’s return in Kumasi, where an away goal for Dreams could prove pivotal.

Zamalek applied plenty of early pressure, with Shikabala, Mostafa Shalaby and Ahmed Hamdi all going close to breaking the deadlock before the midway point of the first half.

Dreams goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi had to be alert to keep out efforts from Shikabala and Travis Mutyaba as Zamalek’s wastefulness in front of goal continued.

The visitors started to gain a foothold and went close through John Antwi, whose powerful strike was well blocked by the impressive Hossam Abdelmaguid.

Shalaby was replaced by Benin international Samson Akinyoola at the break but Zamalek’s frustrations mounted, with the hosts struggling to carve out clear-cut openings.

Akinyoola dragged an effort wide before Shikabala forced a smart save from Agbasi as the offside flag repeatedly came to Dreams’ rescue.

There was still time for Ibrahima Ndiaye to rattle the crossbar late on, but ultimately Zamalek could not find a way through the stubborn Ghanaian rearguard.

Dreams will fancy their chances of reaching the final on away goals if they can shut out Zamalek again in Kumasi next weekend.

CAF Confederation Cup

Shehu Dikko, Okey Obi get important roles at Confederation Cup final match

Published

12 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The duo of Shehu Dikko and Okey Sylvanus Sylvanus Obi, both Nigerians have been appointed as Match Commissioner and Security Officer in Sunday’s final match of the CAF Confederation Cup in Cairo.

Dikko, the former chieftain of the governing body of the Nigeria Premier League is already in Cairo for the final match which pitches Zamalek SC against visiting Morocco’s RS Berkane.

Also already is Okey Obi is in Cairo. He is also the chief legal officer at the Nigeria Football Federation.

The referee of the match is Issa SY. He handled the quarter-final match of Nigeria and Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations last February. He will be assisted by compatriots, Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura. The fourth official is Omar Abdulkadir Artan of Somalia.

The Referee Assessor is Victor Miguel de Freitas Gomes of South Africa while Joshua Robert Knipp, also of South Africa, is the General Coordinator for the match.

The Video Assistant Referee is Pierre Ghislain Atcho of Gabon. Aliou Goloko of Senegal the initially designated Media Officer who was reportedly unavailable, has been replaced by Egypt’s Mohamed Elsesy.

CAF Champions League

BREAKING: CAF adopts Yoruba name, “Ola” for official match ball!

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Confederation of African Football, CAF, has adopted a Nigerian language name of its official match ball for the interclubs competitions. Ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster line-up that sees Africa’s top clubs battle for CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Champions League top honours, the confederation and its matchball producers, PUMA have unveiled a new match ball called “OLA.”

In a press statement, CAF explains that “OLA,” means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba, and “rise” and “success” in Arabic. It explained that the name was chosen to symbolize the dynamic and energetic nature of African football.

Embodying the spirit of Africa, Ola’s design is inspired by the continent’s vibrant colours, art, and traditions.

OLA will be used this weekend – starting in Tunis when Espérance Sportive de Tunis hosts Al Ahly of Egypt in the first leg of the CAF Champions League Final and on Sunday when Zamalek hosts RS Berkane in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final at the Cairo International Stadium.

CAF Confederation Cup

Final, second-leg: Zamalek v RS Berkane: Facts & Figures

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Zamalek will host Moroccan side RS Berkane in the second-leg of the final of CAF Confederation Cup in Cairo on Sunday.

The stakes are high as both teams vie for the title, with the Egyptian seeking to capitalize on their home advantage to overturn the 2-1 first leg deficit against RS Berkane.

RS Berkane will be eager to secure the result that would hand them the title ahead of Zamalek even though the Egyptian giants aim to assert themselves.

CAFOnline.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures ahead of the second-leg clash:

Zamalek could become the first side to win the CAF Confederation Cup despite losing the first leg of the final since themselves in 2019 against RS Berkane (0-1, 1-0 then 5-3 after the penalty shootout).

With their win over Zamalek in the first leg, RS Berkane are now the last unbeaten side in the CAF Confederation Cup this season (W8 D3, including two awarded wins in the semi-finals).

Zamalek have never lost a home game in the CAF Confederation Cup (W11 D4), but they drew the most recent two (1-1 v Modern Future and 0-0 v Dreams in the knockout phase this season).

RS Berkane scored their fifth and sixth goals following a set piece in the CAF Confederation Cup this season during the first leg, equalling Zamalek as the side with the most goals from dead ball situations.

Zamalek have the highest possession rate on average in the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup (63%), that’s at least six percentage points more than any other side.

Adil Tahif (RS Berkane) and Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek) have both scored their second headed goal in the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup during the first leg of the final, only Paul Valère Bassène (RS Berkane) has done as well.

Zizo (Zamalek) provided his fifth assist in the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup, no player has given more assists over a single edition since Opta began detailed data collection (2016-17).

Nabil Emad (Zamalek) has completed 409 passes in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2024, at least 114 more than any other player. 74 of those were in the first leg of the final while no other player completed at least 50 passes in that game.

-CAF