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NIGERIAN ‘PELE’, RABIU ALI EYES KOTOKO SCALP AWAY IN KUMASI
Better known as Pele on the Nigerian domestic football scene, talismanic captain of Kano Pillars, Rabiu Ali has predicted a tough duel away to Asante Kotoko in the reverse CAF Champions League preliminary round tie to be played this weekend in Kumasi.
A fortnight ago, Kano Pillars secured a hard-fought 3-2 home win at the Sani Abacha Stadium nevertheless the 33-year-old Ali is confident his side would scale the hurdle against the battle-hardened Porcupine Warriors at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
“We are not expecting an easy match in Kumasi against Asante Kotoko. Unlike in the first leg, we know what to expect in the second leg match,” Ali who scored the second goal and provided the assist for the winner by Mohammed Gambo in the first leg tie in Kano told CAFOnline.com
“ It was a difficult game for us in Kano. Now we have to prepare well ahead for the return leg in Kumasi because we know Asante Kotoko is big club.”
Though the Ghanaian side are by far experienced being two-time continental champions in 1970 and 1983 as well as winning a record 24 Ghanaian Premier League title, Ali who turn 39 next month (September 27) and has won three successive Nigeria league titles with Kano Pillars between 2011 and 2914 remains unperturbed.
“Football is full of surprises and nobody can predict the outcome of the match in Kumasi because it will be a big battle.
“We (Kano Pillars) have participated in the CAF Champions League in the past and even reached the semi-finals in 2011 when we lost to Heartland of Owerri.
“We have not done better than that since then but we have so much motivation especially after winning the Aiteo Cup ( Nigerian version of the FA Cup) for the first time and we believe we can do well in this year’s CAF Champions League.”
An energetic attacking midfielder, Ali was sanctioned in June and would miss the opening 12 matches of the impending domestic season for allegedly inciting the crowd against match officials during a Playoff match in Lagos.
“I’m not a controversial or stubborn player. I don’t like to lose matches; I love only to win and that is why I would want to do everything possible for my team to win.
“I have won three league titles with Kano Pillars and I’m really delighted with the Aiteo Cup win after we lost in the final last year.
“We will press for a win against Asante Kotoko in Kumasi and we can’t be talking of defending.
“We have players that can help us and I think Mohammed Gambo who scored the winning goal for us against Asante Kotoko in Kano would be our joker again in Kumasi.
“Matches like this is very difficult to predict. It’s going to be a tough match but we ( Kano Pillars) are hopeful of qualification to the next round,” added Rabiu who was named Pele for his velvet skills way back from his days at Kuka Primary School in Kano.
Meanwhile, the aggregate winner between Kano Pillars and Asante Kotoko would face either Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia or Hafia of Guinea in the CAF Champions League second round fixture.
Fixtures
Friday, 23 August 2019
- Al Ahly (Egypt) vs Atlabara (South Sudan) (4-0)
- KCCA (Uganda) vs African Stars (Namibia) (2-3)
- Cote d’Or (Seychelles) vs Fomboni (Comoros) (2-2)
Saturday, 24 August 2019
- Raja Athletic Club (Morocco) vs Brikama United (Gambia) (3-3)
- El Merreikh (Sudan) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria) (0-1)
- Zamalek (Egypt) vs Dekadaha (Somalia) (7-0)
- Generation Foot (Senegal) vs LPRC Oilers (Liberia) (0-1)
- Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) vs Hafia (Guinea) (1-2)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) vs AS Otoho (Congo) (1-2)
- Zesco United (Zambia) vs Green Mamba (Eswatini) (2-0)
- Township Rollers (Botswana) vs Young Africans (Tanzania) (1-1)
- FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs Big Bullets (Malawi) (0-0)
- Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs KMKM (Zanzibar) (2-0)
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) vs Green Eagles (Zambia) (0-1)
Sunday, 25 August 2019
- *El Nasr (Libya) vs Tempete Mocaf (Central African Republic) (0-1)
- Horoya (Guinea) vs Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
- ASCK (Togo) vs Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
- AS Vita (Cameroon) vs UMS de Loum (Cameroon) (0-0)
- El Hilal (Sudan) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
- Enyimba (Nigeria) vs Rahimo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
- USM Alger (Algeria) vs SONIDEP (Niger) (2-1)
- Gor Mahia (Kenya) vs Aigle Noir (Burundi) (0-0)
- Mekelle (Ethiopia) vs Cano Sport (Equatorial Guinea) (1-2)
- Asante Kotoko (Ghana) vs Kano Pillars (Nigeria) (2-3)
- Petro Atletico (Angola) vs Matlama (Lesotho)(2-0)
- Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs SOA (Cote d’Ivoire) (0-0)
- Elect Sport (Chad) vs CMS (Gabon) (0-0)
- Simba (Tanzania) vs UD Songo (0-0)
- Pamplemousses (Mauritius) vs Fosa Juniors (Madagascar (0-1)
*Match will be played in Cairo
-CAF
An unspecified number of Nigerian journalists travelling to Uyo for Friday’s Nigeria versus Libya’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match have been rescued.
This is contained in a press release by the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) on Thursday. The association commended the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in the rescue operation.
From the press release, it was gathered that the media men were abducted within the Anambra and Imo states axis.
”SWAN therefore commends the security operatives, particularly the Nigerian Army and Police for their prompt action which ensured that up to six of the held Sports Journalists regained their freedom with efforts to get the remaining person freed”, reads the SWAN statement.
German coach Juergen Klopp has been appointed head of global soccer for Red Bull, owners of several clubs including RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls, the company said on Wednesday, in his first job since leaving Liverpool earlier this year.
Klopp, who ended his successful nine-year stint with Liverpool at the end of last season, will be starting on January 1, 2025.
“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” Klopp, who also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, said in a statement.
“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not.”
The 57-year-old joined Liverpool in October 2015 and won the Champions League, their first English League title since 1990, the Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.
Klopp, who also led Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and a Champions League final in 2013, had announced in January he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
Klopp will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria, the company said.
“He will provide strategic vision, supporting individual sporting directors in advancing the Red Bull philosophy,” Red Bull said.
Klopp will also support the organisation’s global scouting operation, and contribute to the training and development of coaches.
“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking. As I said, this could not excite me more,” Klopp said.
Some German media reported his Red Bull contract included an exit clause for the post of Germany national team coach.
Klopp has long been linked to that job, especially after his successful stint at Liverpool and with Germany struggling to make an impact on the international stage in the past decade.
-Reuters
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine, from Cape Verde, as referee for Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Super Eagles and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, close to Benghazi.
He will be assisted by compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes (assistant referee 1) and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson (assistant referee 2), with Hamidou Diero from Burkina Faso as fourth official.
Amir Abdi Hassan from Somalia will be in the role of commissioner, with Malian Dramane Dante as referee assessor and Rachid Medjiba from Algeria as security officer.
Tuesday’s encounter, which is at the back-end of a double header between both nations, will kick off at 9pm Libya time (8pm Nigeria time).
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