CAF Champions League
Ribeiro’s Shock Exit Forces Tactical Reset at Mamelodi Sundowns Ahead of Clash with Remo Stars
Mamelodi Sundowns’ preparations for their CAF Champions League second-round showdown against Nigeria’s Remo Stars have been rocked by a sudden departure of their Brazilian star, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Year.
Ribeiro’s unexpected exit has forced the South African giants — famed for their Brazil-style yellow and blue attire and Samba-inspired attacking flair — into a tactical rethink just days before Sunday’s first-leg encounter in Abeokuta.
The first leg will take place at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta — Remo Stars’ adopted home ground for the continental competition — while the return fixture is scheduled for Pretoria, South Africa.
New head coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the vacuum left by Ribeiro’s departure but insists that the reigning South African champions are evolving into a more collective and balanced unit.
“No player will replace Lucas because that’s not what we are looking for,” Cardoso told reporters following Sundowns’ first league defeat 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.”
To that end, the Tshwane-based side have turned to Portugal for reinforcements. Cardoso confirmed the signing of Portuguese playmaker Nuno Santos from Vitória Guimarães, while another Portuguese midfielder, Miguel Reisinho, is reportedly close to joining the club to bolster creativity in midfield.
Despite this transition phase, Sundowns remain one of Africa’s most formidable teams, boasting enviable squad depth and continental pedigree as former CAF Champions League winners and runners-up in last season’s edition.
Remo Stars Ready for the Challenge
For Remo Stars, the tie represents both a historic challenge and a golden opportunity to make a continental statement. The Nigerian champions, debuting at this elite stage of the competition, will face their toughest test yet against the vastly experienced Sundowns.
Head coach Daniel Ogunmodede is expected to rely on the pace and penetration of Adams Olamilekan and the creativity of Ebuka Anthony to trouble the South Africans’ well-drilled defence.
A Rivalry Rekindled
Beyond the football itself, this fixture rekindles the storied Nigeria–South Africa football rivalry that has long defined the African game — from fiery clashes between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana to club-level duels that have shaped CAF competition narratives.
Matches between clubs from both nations are often emotionally charged, symbolizing not just competition but continental pride and supremacy.
As the countdown begins to Sunday’s showdown in Abeokuta, and the return leg in Pretoria on October 26, both teams know that pride, prestige, and progression are on the line.
For Remo Stars, it’s a chance to script history. For Mamelodi Sundowns, it’s about proving that even without their Brazilian talisman, their “Samba football” still dances to an African rhythm.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the quarter-final draws for the 2025/26 editions of its two flagship interclub competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup — on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association in Cairo.
The CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), followed by the CAF Champions League quarter-final draw at 14:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on CAF’s official YouTube platform, CAF TV, allowing fans across the continent and beyond to follow proceedings in real time.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The draws will determine not only the quarter-final pairings but also the pathway to the finals in both competitions, effectively mapping out the remaining knockout journey for Africa’s elite clubs.
With the group stages concluded, the quarter-finals mark the beginning of direct elimination football — a phase traditionally defined by tactical discipline, squad depth and mental resilience. Clubs will be keenly watching the draw to gauge potential heavyweight clashes or favourable routes to the semi-finals.
In the Champions League, former title holders and emerging contenders alike will be hoping to avoid early confrontations against continental heavyweights. Similarly, in the Confederation Cup, where competitive balance has grown in recent seasons, the draw could produce intriguing North-South or West-East showdowns.
Strategic Importance for Clubs
Beyond sporting prestige, progression to the latter stages of CAF competitions carries significant financial incentives, enhanced continental ranking points and increased global visibility. With African club football enjoying expanded broadcast reach and commercial partnerships, success in these tournaments has become both a sporting and economic objective.
Hosting the draws at the Egyptian FA headquarters in Cairo reinforces the city’s status as a nerve centre of African football administration, as clubs await clarity on their next assignments in what promises to be a decisive knockout phase of the 2025/26 campaign.
All eyes will now turn to Cairo as Africa’s road to continental glory becomes clearer.
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Moroccan side RS Berkane delivered a commanding 3–0 victory over Rivers United FC to book their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Berkane imposed themselves early and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Youssef Mehri fired into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.
The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later as Paul Valère Bassène finished clinically after being played through by Mounir Chouiar, leaving Rivers United with a mountain to climb before halftime.
The contest was effectively settled eight minutes into the second half. Bassène grabbed his second of the night in the 53rd minute, converting from close range after a corner to put the result beyond doubt.
Berkane maintained control for the remainder of the match, limiting Rivers United to speculative efforts and half-chances before comfortably seeing out the encounter.
With the results, Pyramids FC finish top of Group A, while RS Berkane join them in the knockout phase as runners-up, bringing the group stage to a decisive conclusion.
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Reigning CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC signed off their group-stage campaign in style with a 3–1 victory over Power Dynamos FC on Matchday 6 to secure top spot in Group A.
The Egyptian side made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Mostafa Ziko rose highest to head home from a corner, underlining their early dominance.
Power Dynamos responded almost immediately. Frederick Mulambia restored parity a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-worked cross to briefly unsettle the hosts.
However, Pyramids regained control midway through the first half. In the 33rd minute, Youssef Obama reacted quickest inside the penalty area to restore the lead, sending the defending champions into the break 2–1 ahead.
The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Ewerton unleashed a superb right-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, extending the advantage to 3–1.
Despite late substitutions and sporadic pressure from the visitors, Pyramids managed proceedings comfortably to claim all three points and finish the group stage at the summit.
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