CAF Champions League
RANGERS, LOBI STARS WILL SCALE THE HEIGHTS, VICTOR EZEJI TELLS CAF
Victor Ezeji is an iconic figure in Nigerian
football, having spent his entire career on the local front. He is currently an
ambassador for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) since retiring
after a career that lasted nearly two decades.
A proud member of the Enyimba squad the broke the country’s almost three
decades continental drought by winning the CAF Champions League trophy in 2003,
Ezeji has other remarkable credentials attached to his name including winning a
domestic double with Dolphins (now Rivers United) of Port Harcourt in 2004. He
also featured for a string of other local clubs (Sharks, Sunshine Stars,
Heartland) and a short spell with Club Africain of Tunisia. Holder of a degree
in accounting from the University of Port-Harcourt, the 37-year-old Ezeji talked
to CAFOnline.com about the exploits of the two Nigerian teams involved in the
continental club championships, Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers as well as his
transition from the pitch to TV punditry. Below are excerpts;
CAFOnline.com: What is the major key to success for clubs playing on the continent?
Victor Ezeji: Good preparation is a non-negotiable
factor for any club to succeed in continental club competitions. It involves so
many things including the quality of your playing staff; travelling arrangements;
management of the matches and other minute factors. Any team that prepares well
would do well and I can say by and large, the two teams representing Nigeria
this time, Lobi Stars and Rangers are coping well despite challenges on the
domestic front such as fixture congestion.
How would you rate the performance of
Lobi Stars thus far?
Lobi Stars have not done badly in the Total Champions League. After losing 1-0
at home to Wydad Athletic Club, many expected ‘them to skinned alive’ in the
return.
They managed
to get a draw, which is a morale booster ahead of their next game against
Mamelodi Sundowns. If they can get a good result against Sundowns, they would
be back on the stream by the time they host ASEC Mimosas in the penultimate
match. They still have a great possibility of qualifying for the quarterfinals
if they can manage their situation very well.
What of Rangers?
Rangers have yet to suffer defeat and we have to applaud their efforts
especially in a group with former winners’ Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien.
In their last
game away to Sfaxien, they fought back to draw level less than two minutes
after Sfaxien had taken the lead; and that shows the sort of confidence they
have. Surprisingly, they are the team to beat despite the presence of the two Tunisian
top sides. Rangers have so many experienced players in their fold as well as
experienced management staff. There is nothing better than blending experience
and youth. I expect Rangers to progress to the next stage.
Which players have caught your attention
from both Rangers and Lobi Stars?
From Rangers,
Godwin Aguda, Bright Silas and their entire backline especially Ajani Ibrahim
have done well. On the part of Lobi Stars, they have blended experienced
players with youths; and imagine the presence of David Tyavkase who was my
teammate when we won the CAF Champions League trophy with Enyimba in 2003. They
also have an experienced player in Cletus Itodo and others that would naturally
guide the younger players in the squad.
How soon would a Nigerian club win a
continental trophy?
With the way the trend is going, we are almost getting close. Last season, Enyimba made it to the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup before losing to eventual winners Raja Club Athletic.
Lobi Stars and
Rangers have done well so far and I think they can go further especially if
they make the quarters. Usually, it’s a gradual process like we did with
Enyimba in the early 2000’s before the club became a very strong force. In the
next two or three years, we should get a club to bring back home a continental
club trophy.
Your transition from being a player to
TV pundit has been so swift; what prepared you for this new life after
retirement from football?
Life after football has not always being easy and rosy. When you are playing, you’re on top of the world because virtually everything was done for you. You hardly do or think for yourself because most of your responsibilities would be taken care by others because they want you to focus on just playing football. But you are faced with stark reality of life once you stop playing. I had long planned to be a TV pundit even whiles playing.
That’ s why I opted out of coaching when I retired; but working with SuperSport has given me the kind of opportunity I wanted. This has given me the opportunity to also share my wealth of experience with the players as well as the fans since I can always provide better insights having gone through the same route. It has been a wonderful experience for me because it has made me to do more research and learn more about the game.
I also think, it serves as a big motivation for younger players and it shows that irrespective of what you are doing today, you can be whatever you want to be. Generally, life after football has been truly amazing for me; I still work out and play as much as I can with younger players and friends.
CAF Champions League
Salami and Shooting Stars: A Family Legacy Intertwined with Continental Glory, Says Odegbami
As Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) prepares for a return to continental football in 2027, an intriguing question is once again stirring conversations among Nigerian football enthusiasts: Is there a mystical connection between the Salami family and the club’s success on the African stage?
The question may sound fanciful, but the historical record provides enough evidence to make even the most sceptical observer pause.
For more than half a century, the fortunes of Shooting Stars and the Salami family have appeared remarkably intertwined, particularly when it comes to continental triumphs.
That fascinating relationship was the focus of the weekend’s edition of “90 Minutes with Mathematical”, the popular radio programme hosted by Nigerian football legend and former Shooting Stars player, Segun Odegbami.
Chief Olalekan “Lekan” Salami, the legendary football administrator and philanthropist, whose passion for the game shaped Nigerian football for nearly four decades. Closely identified with Shooting Stars Sports Club, Salami remained a towering influence in the club’s affairs until his death in March 1988, on the eve of a crucial meeting concerning his beloved team. Today, his legacy endures through the stadium in Ibadan that proudly bears his name.
Odegbami hosted the breakfast conversation with Yomi Salami, one of the sons of the late Chief Olalekan Sanusi Salami, the iconic football administrator whose influence on Nigerian football remains profound nearly four decades after his death.
Chief Olalekan Sanusi Salami was one of the towering figures of African football from the 1960s until his passing in March 1988.
Widely regarded as one of the founding architects of Shooting Stars International FC, he played a pivotal role in shaping professional football in Nigeria and helped transform Ibadan into one of the country’s foremost football centres.
His impact extended beyond administration. He nurtured and mentored generations of footballers, among them Odegbami himself, who would go on to become one of Nigeria’s greatest players.
Salami’s crowning achievement came in 1976 when Shooting Stars won the African Cup Winners’ Cup, becoming the first Nigerian club to capture a continental title.
That victory was a watershed moment for Nigerian football, proving that local clubs could compete successfully against Africa’s finest.
A Curious Pattern Emerges
What followed over the next several decades has become part of Shooting Stars folklore.
In 1992, four years after Chief Salami’s death, his eldest son, Yomi Salami, joined the club’s board. That same year, Shooting Stars won the CAF Cup, securing their second continental trophy.
Six years later, another son, Owolabi Salami, served on the club’s board. In 1998, Shooting Stars added the WAFU Cup to their growing collection of honours.
Now, history appears poised to offer another intriguing chapter.
Following an impressive campaign, Shooting Stars have qualified for continental competition in the 2027 season. Coincidentally—or perhaps not, depending on one’s perspective—the club is currently chaired by Taiwo Salami, yet another son of the late football benefactor.
The timing has inevitably revived memories of previous triumphs and prompted speculation among supporters about whether another continental success could be on the horizon.
Coincidence or Legacy?
For many followers of Nigerian football, the recurring connection is difficult to ignore.
Each time a member of the Salami family has occupied a position of influence within the club, continental silverware has followed.
Whether this is merely a coincidence, the result of strong football management, or a testament to a family tradition deeply rooted in the culture of the club remains open to interpretation.
What is beyond dispute is that the Salami name continues to command enormous respect within Shooting Stars and throughout Nigerian football.
The family has maintained its association with the club across generations, preserving a legacy established by a man who devoted much of his life to football development.
Beyond the Salami-Shooting Stars story, the programme will also examine the resurgence of government-owned clubs in Nigerian football.
For years, privately funded clubs appeared to be gaining dominance in the domestic game. However, traditional government-backed sides such as Shooting Stars have shown renewed competitiveness, reclaiming their place among the country’s elite teams.
The discussion is expected to explore whether this resurgence represents a sustainable trend and what it means for the future of club football in Nigeria.
Awaiting Another Chapter
As Shooting Stars prepare to test themselves once more against Africa’s best clubs, supporters will be hoping that history repeats itself.
The club’s three major international titles have all arrived during periods when the Salami family occupied influential positions within its leadership structure.
With Taiwo Salami now at the helm and continental football beckoning once again, the stage is set for another chapter in one of Nigerian football’s most enduring and intriguing relationships.
Whether destiny, coincidence or simply the continuation of a proud family tradition, the connection between the Salamis and Shooting Stars remains one of the game’s most fascinating stories.
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South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns drew 1-1 at Royal Armed Forces of Morocco on Sunday to claim the African Champions League title 2-1 on aggregate thanks to Teboho Mokoena’s thunderous strike.
The Moroccans took the lead after 40 minutes with a penalty from captain Mohamed Hrimat to level the tie on aggregate after Sundowns claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Pretoria.
But Mokoena responded with a rocket shot from the edge of the box that beat keeper Ahmed Tagnaouti and crashed into the net off the underside of the bar in first-half stoppage time.
Hrimat missed a second penalty for the hosts with 15 minutes remaining as Sundowns held on to claim the trophy for the second time after their previous win in 2016 and qualified for both the Intercontinental Cup and 2029 Club World Cup.
Sundowns suffered a shock defeat in the final last season against Pyramids FC of Egypt, while for their Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, it was a case of third time lucky after he also lost in the decider in 2024 in charge of Tunisia’s Esperance.
“It was fully deserved, what this team has been through, knocking on the door every season. Finally, the door opened for us, and we get to add the star to the jersey,” Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams said
The South Africans were much the better side in the first leg, but had to ride their luck in Rabat as Royal Armed Forces missed a host of late chances.
The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot when Sundowns defender Divine Lunga caught attacker Reda Slim from behind as he dallied while trying to clear the ball and Hrimat converted.
But the visitors netted a superb equaliser that left the Moroccans needing to score twice, with away goals still a factor in African club football.
Tashreeq Matthews flicked on Brayan Leon’s cross from the right and Mokoena scored with a rasping shot.
Royal Armed Forces got a second spot kick when Williams brought down Youssef El Fahli after the keeper spilled a routine shot, and, trying to regather the ball, clattered into the forward.
This time, Williams dived low to his left and pulled off a superb save to deny the home side a way back into the tie.
-Reuters
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Morocco’s AS FAR will attempt to overturn a narrow first-leg deficit when they host South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the decisive second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final in Rabat on Sunday.
The highly anticipated clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium promises a dramatic finish to Africa’s premier club competition, with Sundowns arriving in Morocco holding a slim 1-0 advantage from last weekend’s first leg in Pretoria.
At stake is not only continental glory, but also a record-breaking first prize of $6 million, underlining the Confederation of African Football’s growing financial commitment to club football.
The winners will also secure qualification for three major international tournaments — the 2026 CAF Super Cup against Algeria’s USM Alger, the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Sundowns claimed victory in the first leg courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Aubrey Modiba, although the South African champions missed several opportunities that could have given them a more comfortable cushion heading into the return fixture.
Despite the defeat, AS FAR remain confident of staging a comeback in front of an expected capacity crowd in Rabat. The Moroccan side are banking on their strong home form and the intimidating atmosphere generated by their supporters.
AS FAR coach Alexandre Santos admitted Sundowns posed enormous danger in open spaces but insisted the tie remains far from over.
“It’s very difficult when Sundowns get space, they are one of the best teams on the continent,” Santos said.
“We kept the result to 1-0, and the most important thing is that we play at home and fight until the end. That’s our intention.”
The Moroccan club are chasing their first CAF Champions League title since 1985, a triumph that remains one of the most celebrated moments in the club’s history.
For Sundowns, victory would deliver a second African crown after their 2016 success and erase memories of last season’s final defeat to Egypt’s Pyramids FC.
Coach Miguel Cardoso believes his side’s experience in recent finals could prove decisive, although he acknowledged the challenge awaiting his players in Rabat.
“It’s my third CAF Champions League final in a row, and it’s the first time I go into the second leg with a goal advantage,” Cardoso said.
“This time we have the privilege to be one goal ahead, but let’s see if it’s enough or not. We will fight to make it enough.”
The final is expected to attract a global television audience across more than 100 territories, reflecting the increasing international appeal of African club football.
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