CAF Confederation Cup
ENYIMBA DRAW TWO FORMER CHAMPIONS IN TOUGH CONFEDERATION LEAGUE FIXTURES
Enyimba of Nigeria are one of the three former African club champions drawn together in Group A of this season’s Confederation Cup. The two other elite league winners with Enyimba are Orlando Pirates and Algeria’s Entente Setif.
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates won the continental title in 1995 while Entente Setif just like Nigeria’s Enyimba, have won the crown twice.
They are joined in Group A by Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi in the continent’s second-tier club competition.
The group-stage matches are due to begin next month with the top two in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.
- Group A: Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Enetente Setif (Algeria), Enyimba (Nigeria)
- Group B: Napsa Stars (Zambia), Coton Sport (Cameroon), JS Kabylie (Algeria), RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Group C: Jaaraf (Senegal), Salitas (Burkina Faso) CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) Etoile/Young Buffaloes
- Group D: Namungo/Primeiro Agosto, Nkana FC (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane will continue the defence of their title in Group B alongside Zambia’s Napsa Stars, Coton Sport of Cameroon and Algeria’s JS Kabylie, who have also twice been African Champions.
The Confederation Cup’s most successful club is Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, who have lifted the trophy three times, are in Group C and know they will definitely face with Senegal’s Jaaraf and Salitas of Burkina Faso.
The other team in the group will either be Etoile du Sahel or Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes, the second leg of their play-off takes place on Monday with the Tunisian side holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg.
There is one other match to be played to decide the final place in Group D with Tanzanian club Namungo the firm favourites to clinch the spot after beating Angola’s Primeiro Agosto 6-2 in the first leg on Sunday.
The tie was delayed when Covid-19 forced the game in Angola to be called off before the Confederation of African Football agreed that both games could be played in Tanzania.
Awaiting the winners in Group D are Zambia’s Nkana, Pyramids from Egypt and Moroccan side Raja Casablanca.
Confederation Cup play-off results – second legs:
- US Monastir (Tunisia) 1-0 Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
- 1-1 on aggregate Raja progress 6-5 on penalties
- Napsa Stars (Zambia) 2-2 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
- Napsa Stars progress 3-2 on aggregate
- DC Motema Pembe (DR Congo) 1-1 Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya)
- 2-2 on aggregate Ahly progress 8-7 on penalties
- Coton Sport (Cameroon) 1-0 Sonidep (Niger)
- Coton Sport progress 2-0 on aggregate
- Rivers Utd (Nigeria) 1-0 Enyimba (Nigeria)
- 1-1 on aggregate Enyimba progress 5-4 on penalties
- Orlando Pirates (South Africa) 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
- Pirates progress 4-0 on aggregate
- JS Kabylie (Algeria) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali)
- 2-2 on aggregate Kabylie progress on away goals
- Pyramids (Egypt) 2-0 Racing Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
- Pyramids progress 4-0 on aggregate
- Jaraaf (Senegal) 1-0 Platinum (Zimbabwe)
- Jaraaf progress 2-0 on aggregate
- Entente Setif (Algeria) 0-0 Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
- Setif progress 2-1 on aggregate
- Salitas (Burkina Faso) 3-1 Bouenguidi (Gabon)
- Salitas progress 3-2 on aggregate
- Tihad Casablanca (Morocco) 2-1 Nkana (Zambia)
- Nkana progress 3-2 on aggregate
- 22/02/21: Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) v Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
- Etoile lead 2-1 on aggregate
- AS Kigali (Rwanda) 1-1 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
- Sfaxien progress 5-2 on aggregate
First leg:
- Primeiro Agosto (Angola) 2-6 Namungo (Tanzania) Caf ordered Primeiro to stage home leg in Tanzania after Angolan authorities prevented Namungo playing in Luanda last weekend
Bye:
- Renaissance Berkane (Morocco, holders)
CAF Confederation Cup
Good start for Confederation Cup defending champions, Zamalek
Zamalek commenced their CAF Confederation Cup journey with a 1-0 win over Kenya’s Police in the initial leg of the second preliminary round held in Nairobi this Saturday.
Veteran winger Abdallah El-Saied secured the win for the Whites with a precise strike from outside the box just a minute before halftime.
The Cairo giants, winners of the 2023-2024 CAF Confederation Cup title, started the match with relentless pressure on the hosts to clinch victory in the first leg and alleviate pressure before the upcoming return fixture in Cairo next Friday.
“The most important thing for us was to win and achieve our target,” Zamalek coach Gomes said after the game.
Hosts Police FC of Kenya could not breach Zamalek’s resolute defense in search of an equalizer.
Despite notable summer acquisitions, Zamalek’s coach Jose Gomes opted for a standard lineup, integrating young talents in lieu of seasoned players.
“We are now stronger than the previous season, thanks to spending more time with the team and preparing to play in the tournaments that we will participate in,” the Portuguese coach added.
Conversely, Kenya’s Police FC squandered a clear scoring opportunity against Zamalek, missing a crucial chance fifteen minutes before the final whistle, dashing hopes of leveling the score.
Kenya’s Police FC earned their place in this round following a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia Coffee SC.
-Ahram
CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba continues unbeaten run against Burkina Faso clubs
Nigeria’s Enyimba played a thrilling 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second round tie in Bamako on Friday.
There have been three previous confrontation with Burkina Faso teams and this Friday encounter was the second time that Enyimba had had to face Etoile Filante.
According to facts supplied by Opta Nigeria, Etoile Filante were Enyimba’s first ever opponent on the continent 22 years ago in March 2002. Ever since, Enyimba have played 157 times on the continent; the highest by any Nigerian club.
Enyimba carry their advantage to the return leg to be played on 22 September.
CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba drawn against Etoile de Filante in Confederation Cup
Nigeria’s sole survivors in the CAF Confederation Cup,Enyimba will face Burkina Faso sides, Etoile de Filante in the second round of the competition.
Enyimba drew bye in the preliminary round while the Burkina Faso team reached the second round after eliminating Hafia of Guinea.
Enyimba, second runners-up in the Nigerian League will be attempting to win the Confederation Cup for the first time for Nigeria as they did in the Champions League 21 years ago.
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