CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League: Can Nigerian duo Plateau and Rivers shine up North?
Nigeria’s Plateau and Rivers United shocked giants Esperance and defending champions Wydad Athletic Club in the first leg of the CAF Champions League matches last weekend, and will be keen to take the form up north and complete the jobs.
Both sides picked 2-1 victories at home and can complete the job by avoiding defeat in the away fixtures.
Rivers will be up against the holders on a tough stomping ground at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca. Wydad have been formidable at their home turf and they will be keen to overturn the result, pushed on by their passionate crowd.
But Rivers have vowed not to walk into the pitch with fear in their loins, but instead have said they will give a fight to make history for themselves.
Left back Ebere Duru, one of the standout players at Rivers said they will be keen to continue with the job they did in the first leg, insisting on teamwork and togetherness to push them beyond the odds.
“In the first leg, we had a lot of team spirit and determination and we knew what was a t stake. We came to fight and we got the desired victory,” Duru said.
“We believe that we can complete the job away from home. We will come all out and fight to the end. It is a game of 90 minutes and we will give our all. We know what we are going to face there, so we have prepared both physically and mentally,” he added.
He also notes; “Casablanca stadium is a tough one but we won’t allow it to affect our game plan.”
Rivers, a club founded in 2016 are keen to make their first ever group stage appearance, and what a story it would be if they do so against the defending champions.
Meanwhile in Tunisia, Plateau will also be up to the task of drowning a giant when they take on Esperance du Tunis, with a 2-1 lead from the first leg.
Just like Rivers, Plateau know what awaits them in North Africa, but are pumping in their confidence to ensure they are ready for the task ahead.
Skipper Daniel Itodo believes they have what it takes to cause an upset.
“I believe in the team and the coaches we have and I know we are going to cause an upset in Tunis and get a win. We are well prepared both physically, psychologically and spiritually ready for the task ahead, we know what we are going to face intimidation from their fans but we are ready,” he said.
Itodo has said the victory in the first leg was down to self belief and fighting spirit, especially noting they were first to concede.
“We fought till the end and that is what we are taking to Tunis. We are not ready to give up,” he adds.
In another interesting fixture this weekend, Ugandan champions Vipers SC will be up to make history by seeking their first ever ticket to the group stage of the CAF Champions League when they play Congolese giants TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi. The two sides played to a goalless draw in the first leg in Kampala last weekend.
Any scoring draw will be enough to take Vipers through. On a tough hunting ground, the Ugandans are keen to ensure they drown the giants.
Head coach Roberto Oliveira has charged up his team to ensure they step in and give their best.
“Some people have written us off after the first leg goalless draw but we are determined to give our best against on Saturday. It won’t be a walk in the park for TP Mazembe,” said the coach.
His sentiments are echoed by assistant captain Yunus Sentamu who says; “They have played in this competition for many years and also won it a number of times. But we have no option but to attack them because we need goals. Attack is the weapon we are going to use.”
First Leg Results
- Rivers United FC (Nigeria) 2-1 Wydad AC (Morocco)
- Plateau United FC (Nigeria) 2-1 E.S.T. (Tunisia)
- ASN Nigelec (Niger) 0-2 Raja CA (Morocco)
- US Monastirienne (Tunisia) 0-1 Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
- Vipers SC (Uganda) 0-0 TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
- La Passe FC (Seychelles) 0-7 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Asec Mimosas (Côte D’Ivoire) 0-1 Horoya AC (Guinea)
- ASKO De Kara (Togo) 1-2 JS Kabylie (Algeria)
- Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali) 2-1 CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
- Young Africans (Tanzania) 1-1 Al Hilal (Sudan)
- Al Merrikh (Sudan) 2-0 Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya)
- FLAMBEAU DU CENTRE(Burundi) 0-1 Zamalek SC (Egypt)
- Cape Town City FC (South Africa) 0-3 Atlético Petroleos (Angola)
- CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 1-3 Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Royal Leopards FC (Eswatini) 1:1 Coton Sport FC (Cameroon)
- Rail Club du Kadiogo (RCK) (Burkina Faso) – AS Vita Club (DR Congo)
-CAF
CAF Champions League
CAF Champions League: Travelling teams secure victories on the road
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
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 80th minute.
CAF Champions League
VIDEO: Controversial penalty kick remains a talking point in Remo Stars’ elimination
But for the questionable penalty kick awarded for AS FAR of Morocco in the 78th 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 51st minute that Alimi was brought in in the 54th minute.
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