BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigerian champions, Remo Stars, will begin their CAF Champions League campaign this Sunday with a preliminary round clash against US Zilimadjou of Comoros at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The Sky Blue Stars, making another attempt at continental success, are widely tipped as favourites against the island nation’s representatives.

Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has admitted the weight of expectation but says his team is ready to deliver a strong performance at home.

Remo Stars come into the game off a busy domestic schedule in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Though their unbeaten start was halted recently by a 2-0 loss to Plateau United, the Nigerian champions remain confident that regular competitive action has sharpened their squad for the continental stage.

Their opponents, US Zilimadjou, arrive with pedigree as multiple Comoros Premier League winners.

However, they face a major hurdle: their domestic season ended in July and the next campaign does not resume until October, leaving them short of match fitness.

The club has experience in Champions League qualifiers but has struggled to advance in past editions.

The tactical battle is expected to pit Remo Stars’ high-tempo attacking style against Zilimadjou’s likely cautious and counter-attacking approach.

Analysts predict that the Nigerians will dominate possession while the visitors seek to frustrate and snatch an away goal.

With the tie to be decided over two legs, Ogunmodede’s men are aware that a convincing result at home is vital. Football analysts forecast a low-scoring affair, with a 1-0 or 2-0 win for the hosts seen as the most probable outcome.

The return leg also in Abeokuta will determine which side advances to the second preliminary round and keeps alive the dream of a place in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.

Although Remo Stars have been on the continental stage in the past three seasons, this seems to be their best chance of advancing beyond the first round.

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The 2025/26 season of the CAF Champions League got underway on Friday with three first-leg ties setting the tone for a busy opening weekend. 

Young Africans issued the loudest statement, winning 3–0 away to Wiliete in Angola. Vipers SC took a valuable 1–0 success at African Stars, while Dadjè of Benin kept Al Ahly Tripoli at arm’s length in a goalless draw. 

More first legs matches follow onm Saturday and Sunday across the continent before next weekend’s returns decide who progresses to October’s second preliminary round.

Young Africans, last season’s Tanzanian champions, produced a measured away performance in Benguela to put one foot in the next round.

They struck first on 32 minutes when Aziz Andabwile finished from close range after sustained pressure down the right.

The visitors then controlled the tempo and struck twice late on to underline their superiority: John Edmund guided in a neat effort on 72 minutes before Prince Dube curled home an 81st-minute third.

A clean sheet and three away goals leave Yanga firmly in charge before the return leg in Dar es Salaam.

In Namibia, Vipers SC claimed an early advantage in a cagey contest against African Stars.

The Ugandans were in front after just 14 minutes when defender Hillary Mukundane stole in at a set-piece to prod beyond the goalkeeper.

From there, Vipers settled into a disciplined shape, keeping the hosts at arm’s length and managing the game well in the second period.

African Stars pushed after the interval but found little space between the lines, leaving themselves with work to do in Kitende.

Benin’s Dadjè and Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli remain finely poised after a tight 0–0 in Cotonou. Chances were scarce as both sides prioritised control in midfield.

The visitors will be satisfied to take the tie home level, but Dadjè’s organisation and intensity suggest a tricky night awaits in Tripoli.

With the stakes high and margins thin in these early rounds, small details in next weekend’s returns could decide the outcome.

This preliminary phase is the first step on a long road that runs through October’s second round to the group stage, which begins on 21 November.

Several heavyweights, including Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, await at the next hurdle, while the defending champions Pyramids and Rwanda’s APR join later.

For Friday’s winners, the brief is clear: complete the job next week.

For the sides trailing, the mission is to reset quickly and make home advantage count when the competition resumes with the second legs between 26–28 September.

-Cafonline

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Nigeria’s Remo Stars have confirmed ticketing details for their highly anticipated CAF Champions League preliminary round home fixtureagainstUS Zilimadjou of Comoros Island on Sunday.

In a statement released via their official X handle, the club revealed that VIP tickets will go on sale at the stadium in Abeokuta on matchday for ₦5,000, while regular entry will be free of charge.

The gesture is aimed at encouraging strong home support as the Sky Blue Stars embark on their fourth consecutive continental campaign.

The club’s management urged fans to turn out in large numbers to create a charged atmosphere that could give the team an edge in the crucial tie.

“This is more than just a game; it is a moment for Remo Stars and Nigerian football,” a club source said. “We want to make sure our supporters are right behind us.”

The match, scheduled for this weekend at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, marks a significant milestone in Remo Stars’ growing continental profile, as they look to make an impact on the African stage.

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