CAF Champions League

Points of interest as Remo Stars clash with AS FAR

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2024

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

For the third time running, Remo Stars are featuring in continental competition as they begin another cycle by hosting one of the biggest clubs in the continent, Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal (AS FAR) which in Morocco go with the nicknames of ‘The Leader, Boss, Militarians and Black Army).

Founded 67 years ago by King Hassan II on September 1958, they are the 1985 CAF Champions and winners of 2005 CAF Confederation Cup.

Sports Village Square takes an in-depth look at the match and comes out with the following points of interest.

Both teams met two years ago at the same stage of the second tier CAF competition – the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Moroccan side is far older than Remo Stars. The military outfit was founded 67 years ago on 1 September 1958. while Remo Stars were founded 20 years ago as FC Dender before changing name in 2010.

When Adams Olamilekan Alade scored from a flick header in the 49^th minute of the CAF Confederation Cup in Rabat two years ago, he became the first Remo Stars player to score in a competitive international match.

This Sunday match marks the third time both teams are meeting after their encounters in the 2022 CAF Champions League.

It is the fourth international match to be played in Ikenne after the 2022 Remo Stars with AS FAR, the 2023 duel with Medeama Sporting Club of Ghana and the Saturday’s game of El-Kanemi Warriors and Benin Republic’s Dadjè FC d’Aplahoué.

With the match, Ogun State is gradually becoming a focal point in continental clubs competiton since the era of Abiola Babes in 1987 Julius Berger hosting Tunisia’s Étoile Sportive du Sahel in Abeokuta in 2003 in Abeokuta.

Remo Stars will be on vengeance mission for most big clubs from Nigeria who have been eliminated from continental championship by AS FAR of Morocco. Of the six Nigerian clubs that have had confrontations with AS FAR, only the former Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland) ever prevailed. That was in the semi-finals of the old-styled Champions League edition of 1988 when the Nigerian side won 5-3 on penalties after a 4-4 aggregate scores.

Also in the 2009 Champions League, Iwuanyanwu Nationale ousted the Moroccans after winning 3-1 at home and forcing a 1-1 draw in Rabat in the second round of the competition.

Before then, AS FAR eliminated Stationery Stores at the quarter-finals of the 1968 edition. The game went through three legs

Stores won the first leg 1-0 in Lagos but lost the return match in Rabat 2-1. Away goal rule was not in operation at the time.

A third match was played in Dakar Senegal by mutual agreement. After the match finished 2–2 when extra time expired, AS FAR won by drawing of lots.

The next Nigerian sides to face AS FAR were the Wikki Tourists in the 1999 edition of the now discontinued African Winners’ Cup. At the quarter final stage, Wikki Tourists crashed out 3-0 on aggregate.

AS FAR again faced Dolphin of Port Harcourt and Enugu Rangers at the 2005 Confederation Cup. The Moroccans ousted Rangers on away goal rule at the play-off stage. The encounters ended 2-2.

In the final, Dolphins lost 3-1 on aggregate. It is those deplorable records that Remo Stars will be aiming to erase as they confront the Moroccan military outfit.

Inscribed on the crest of Remo Stars is the figure 33. It symbolizes the number of towns that make up Remo division in Ogun State.

CAF Champions League

CAF Champions League: Travelling teams secure victories on the road

Published

3 days ago

September 15, 2024

Kunle Solaja

CAF Champions League 2nd Preliminary Round action resumed on Saturday, 14 September following the resumption of the Africa’s premium club competition on Friday.

It was mostly the travelling teams that secured victories away from home on Saturday, who put themselves in fairly comfortable situations ahead of the return leg next week.

Orlando Pirates had a mental obstacle to overcome in Gaborone against Jwaneng Galaxy, having to face the same side that eliminated them in the same phase of the competition last season.

The former champions secured a 2-0 victory in Gaborone to put themselves in a comfortable position ahead of the return leg next weekend.

Five-time champions, TP Mazembe were away to Red Arrows in Zambia where they also put two past their hosts ahead of the return leg in Lubumbashi.

Mamelodi Sundowns, who played their away match in the comfort of their home stadium against Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows made use of home ground advantage with a comfortable 4-0 win over their neighbours.

Tanzanian champions, Young Africans secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over CBE SA of Rwanda as Tanzanian giants continue to chase a continental title.

It was a rather tough outing for Moroccan outfit, AS FAR when they travelled to Sudan to face Al Merrikh. A highly entertaining encounter concluded with a 2-2 draw, ahead of the return leg in Morocco.

Egyptian side, Pyramids FC also played out to a draw when they were held 1-1 by APR FC in Rwanda.

Burkina Faso side, Association Sportive des Douanes out up an impressive showing when they edged Algeria’s CR Belouizdad by 1-0.

The first leg of the 2nd Preliminary Round concludes on Sunday, with five interesting encounters lined up, including reigning champions Al Ahly kick starting their title defense away from home.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Results & Fixtures:

Friday, 13 September

Enugu Rangers 1 – 0 Sagrada Esperanca

Monastir 0 – 1 MC Alger

Saturday, 14 September

CBE SA 0 – 1 Young Africans

Red Arrows 0 – 2 TP Mazembe

Al-Merrikh 2 – 2 AS FAR

Jwaneng Galaxy FC 0 – 2 Orlando Pirates FC

Maniema Union 2 – 1 Petro de Luanda

Djoliba 1 – 0 ASKO

Douanes 1 – 0 CR Belouizdad

Sunday, 15 September

12h00 GMT | Gor Mahia vs Al Ahly

15h00 GMT | Samartex vs Raja CA

16h00 GMT | San Pedro vs Al-Hilal

16h00 GMT | Dekedaha vs ES Tunis

19h00 GMT | Stade d’Abidjan vs Milo FC

The return leg fixtures of the 2nd Preliminary stage will be played between 20 – 22 September.

-CAF

CAF Champions League

Enugu Rangers in slim CAF Champions League win over Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca

Published

4 days ago

September 13, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Enugu Rangers’ patchy form in the CAF Champions League continues as they struggled to beat visiting Angola’s Sagrada Esperance 1-0 in the first leg match played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

It was in similar fashion that they played against Union Sportive de Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands who they beat 2-1 over two legs in Uyo.

Rangers’ lone goal was scored by Kazeem Ogunleye in the 80^th minute.

CAF Champions League

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

Published

3 weeks ago

August 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

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 78^th 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.

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 51^st minute that Alimi was brought in in the 54^th minute.