Tag: CAF Champions League

Ahmed Atef El Sayed delivered a scintillating individual performance on Matchday One of the CAF Champions League, scoring all three goals as Pyramids FC swept aside Rivers United 3–0 in Cairo. His ruthless display of finishing not only secured a perfect start for the defending champions but also earned him the prestigious award of CAF Interclub Player of the Week.

The 26-year-old striker was the undisputed focal point of the contest, single-handedly dismantling Rivers United with a hat-trick that showcased his versatility, composure and clinical instincts inside the penalty area. After a cagey first half where the Nigerians held firm, Atef took full control of the tie with three decisive strikes that underlined his growing reputation as one of Africa’s premier forwards.

He opened the floodgates in the 52nd minute, pouncing sharply in a congested six-yard box to steer home the breakthrough goal. The finish shattered Rivers United’s resistance and swung the tempo firmly in Pyramids’ favour. Just five minutes later, he doubled the advantage with a majestic header—rising above the defence to power Karim Hafez’s pinpoint cross into the top corner, arguably the finest goal of the night.

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Atef completed his hat-trick with supreme assurance in the 72nd minute. Latching onto Mohamed Reda’s incisive pass, he guided a composed right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner, sealing a memorable treble that highlighted his full array of striking qualities—from instinct to aerial dominance to calm, precise finishing.

His brilliance ensured Pyramids FC finished Matchday One level on points with RS Berkane at the top of Group A, reinforcing the club’s ambitions of defending their Champions League crown. More importantly, it cemented Atef’s status as the standout performer of the opening round, with CAF’s recognition confirming his influence and dominance.

With confidence soaring, Atef now heads into the next Group A clash against Power Dynamos as the man to watch. If his opening-day heroics are any indication, Pyramids’ pursuit of back-to-back continental titles will run through their red-hot No. 9.

Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane are among the top seeds for the CAF Champions League group draw  today, even though they have never played in the competition before.

Seedings are based on results in both the Champions League and the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup over the past five seasons.

While Berkane have not been involved the premier African club competition, they reached three Confederation Cup finals during that period, winning two.

The team known as the Orange Boys – they are based in the northeast citrus-growing region of the kingdom – accumulated 52 points over the five seasons.

That earned them the final place among the top seeds after record 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt and previous title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Esperance of Tunisia.

Defending champions Pyramids of Egypt, surprise winners last season with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Sundowns, are among the second seeds.

The line-up for the draw at a TV studio in Johannesburg includes three other former champions – Mouloudia Alger and JS Kabylie of Algeria and FAR Rabat of Morocco.

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ASEC Mimosas and Stade Abidjan of Cote d’Ivoire  and Orlando Pirates were former winners who failed to get past the qualifying phase.

Apart from Berkane, Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Power Dynamos of Zambia, Rivers United of Nigeria and Stade Malien of Mali have reached the group stage for the first time.

CAF Champions League: The Seedings

Pot 1: Al Ahly (EGY), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Esperance (Tunisia), Renaissance Berkane (MAR)

Pot 2: Simba, Young Africans (both TAN), Pyramids (EGY, holders), Al Hilal (SUD)

Pot 3: Petro Luanda (ANG), FAR Rabat (MAR), Mouloudia Alger (ALG), Rivers United (NGR)

Pot 4: JS Kabylie (ALG), Stade Malien (MLI), Saint-Eloi Lupopo (COD), Power Dynamos (ZAM)

CAF Confederation Cup: The Seedings

Pot 1: Zamalek (EGY), Wydad Casablanca (MAR), Chabab Belouizdad, USM Alger (both ALG)

Pot 2: Al Masry (EGY), Stellenbosch (RSA), Djoliba (MLI), Maniema Union (COD)

Pot 3: Kaizer Chiefs (RSA), Otoho (CGO)

Pot 4: AZAM, Singida Black Stars (both TAN), ZESCO  United  (ZAM), San Pedro (CIV), Olympique Safi (MAR), Nairobi United (KEN)

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Mr. Aminu Abdulhamid, has challenged  the Rivers United FC to give their all and make the country proud as they prepare to face Black Bulls in the CAF TotalEnergies Champions League second preliminary round in Maputo.

Welcoming the team at the Nigerian Embassy shortly after their arrival yesterday, Ambassador Abdulhamid assured the players and officials of the embassy’s full support throughout their stay.

“I want to welcome you to Mozambique and assure you that our doors are open 24 hours for you,” the envoy declared. “We will also mobilize the Nigerian community to be fully present at the stadium to cheer you to victory.”

The Rivers United contingent, led by General Manager, Okey Kpalukwu, was warmly received at the Maputo International Airport by officials of the Nigerian Embassy and members of the Nigerian community before being hosted to a brief reception at the chancery.

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Kpalukwu, who also serves as a board member of the NPFL and Chairman of the NPFL Club Owners Association, expressed gratitude to the Ambassador and the Nigerian community for the warm reception. He urged continued support as the team aims to advance to the next round of the competition.

Similarly, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman, representing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), appreciated the envoy’s hospitality and pledged that Rivers United would justify the confidence reposed in them.

Head Coach Finidi George assured that the players are motivated and determined to secure a positive result ahead of the return leg in Nigeria.

The match is scheduled for tomorrow  at the Estádio do Zimpeto in Maputo. As a gesture of appreciation, Chief Kpalukwu presented Rivers United replica jerseys to the Ambassador and embassy officials.

Orlando Pirates will visit Algeria’s MC Alger at the Stade du 5-Juillet-1962 today, looking to continue their unbeaten CAF Champions League campaign in the quarterfinal first leg.

The Buccaneers entered the tournament at the first qualifying round and saw off Madagascar’s Disciples FC and then Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy to earn a spot in the group stage.

There, José Riveiro’s men shocked Africa’s most successful club – Egypt’s Al Ahly – by beating them 2-1 away after a 0-0 draw at home. Pirates topped Group C with Ahly second, Algeria’s CR Belouizdad third and Stade d’Abidjan bottom of the pile.

MC Alger, who currently top Algeria’s Ligue 1 ahead of CR Belouizdad, scraped through a competitive Group A in the CAF Champions League in second place. They finished behind Sudan’s Al Hilal, but ahead of Tanzania’s Yanga SC and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.

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Having beaten CR Belouizdad home and away, the Buccaneers will fancy their chances against another Algerian side. They will pin their hopes largely on in-form Relebohile Mofokeng, who scored twice in a minute in their 2-1 win over league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns before netting his first international goal in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho.

Soufiane Bayazid has been effective upfront for MC Alger in this season’s CAF Champions League, with two goals in the group stage after another against Watanga in the first qualifying round. However, for both these teams, goals can come from anywhere on the pitch.

CAF still utilises the away goals rule, so anything the Buccaneers can get on the road could go a long way towards securing their passage to the semi-finals.

FULL QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES

Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)

Pyramids FC (EGY) vs AS FAR (MAR)

Al Ahly FC (EGY) vs Al Hilal FC (SDN)

MC Alger (ALG) vs Orlando Pirates (RSA)

Defending champions Al Ahly have been drawn in a difficult Group C in the pool stages of the 2024-25 African Champions League where they must negotiate South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, CR Belouizdad from Algeria and Stade d’Abidjan of Cote d’Ivoire .

It is likely to be a tightly contested group with record 12-time winners Ahly from Egypt having not always shown their best form in the pool stages in recent years, despite lifting the trophy in four of the previous five editions.

With the top two sides in each pool advancing to the quarter-finals, Group B also looks a tight one with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns pitted against the wily Moroccan duo of Raja Casablanca and AS FAR. Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fourth team in the pool.

Their compatriots Tout Puissant Mazembe, who are five-time African champions, headline Group A along with Young Africans of Tanzania, Sudan’s Al Hilal and MC Alger from Algeria.

Last year’s beaten finalists Esperance of Tunisia will expect to advance from Group D, where they face Pyramids FC from Egypt, Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca and Djoliba AC of Mali.

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The group stage gets under way on the weekend of Nov. 26-27, with the final matches to be played on Jan. 17-18.

2024-25 AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW

GROUP A

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Young Africans (Tanzania)

Al Hilal (Sudan)

MC Alger (Algeria)

GROUP B

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

AS FAR (Morocco)

Maniema Union (DR Congo)

GROUP C

Al Ahly (Egypt)

CR Belouizdad (Algeria)

Orlando Pirates (South Africa)

Stade d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

GROUP D

Esperance (Tunisia)

Pyramids FC (Egypt)

Sagrada Esperanca (Angola)

Djoliba (Mali)

Rangers International FC have grabbed an important 1-0 away win against Comoros’ US Zilimadjou in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League played yesterday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

The Comoros’ league champions opted to use Nigeria as their base for their CAF Champions League home games because CAF declared their home ground in Moroni as unfit to host the game.

Frank Uwumiro scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd  minute as poor marksmanship denied the Flying Antelopes the chance to add more goals.

Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men will go into the return leg tie slated for Friday this week at the same venue with the goal advantage as they move closer into achieving their dream of returning Nigeria to the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

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Meanwhile Nigeria’s second representatives in the CAF Champions League, Remo Stars are however walking tight rope following their 2-1 slim win at home to Moroccan side, ASFAR. 

Nduka Junior glanced home a Sodiq Ismail free kick from the right wing to put the Sky Blue Stars ahead in the 19th minute but the visitors equalised four minutes into the second half.

Sodiq Ismail who provided the assist for the opening goal was on hand to nod home a glorious cross from skipper Nduka Junior in the 68th minute and it proved to be the game’s clincher for the home team.

Remo Stars will have a mountain to climb in Rabat in this weekend’s as they strive to keep hold of their slim first leg advantage. 

A strong Rangers International of Enugu delegation of 26  players including  coaches, backroom staff and other top management officials, have safely touched down in Uyo for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025, first leg, first preliminary round fixture against Comoros Islands side, U.S Zilimadjou, who are playing their home fixture in Nigeria.

Led by the double award-winning coach of the season, Fidelis Ilechukwu, the players are in a very high mood to defend the badge of the club and the flag of the nation, Nigeria in their return to continental football after four seasons.

The team has been in an intense training regime for the past three weeks in Enugu under coach Ilechukwu and his able lieutenants, and they are rearing to go against the Comoros league champions who landed in the country on Wednesday.

The Flying Antelopes’ captain,  Ugwueze Chinemerem, is optimistic about getting a good result ahead of the return leg that has been fixed for Friday, August 23 , at the same Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

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 “We respect our opponent but we shall do the needful, by God’s special grace, on the field of play. We have intensified our training since the preparation for the new season started and with the level of motivation in our team, we shall come out with a good result,” he said.

Assistant captain and short-stopper, Opubo Japhet said: “I believe we have all it takes to get a good result on Sunday in Uyo. Though not much is known about our opponent, we give them their respect as the champions of Comoros but we have our game plans.”  

Newly crowned champions of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Rangers International FC of Enugu, have announced their readiness to compete in the next season’s CAF Champions League in August.

The General Manager of the club, Amobi Ezeaku, disclosed  ahead of the presentation of their NPFL trophy to their supporters in Enugu.

Ezeaku, who affirmed Rangers’ unwavering commitment to flying the nation’s flag in the African elite club competition, acknowledged the formidable nature of the championship.

He also disclosed that the club had since scouted for seasoned players across the continent, whom he believed would bolster the squad to navigate the demanding competition.

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Amobi, who commended Governor Peter Mbah and the state’s  ministry of sports for the support the club received during the last season’s campaign, also lauded its shirt sponsors, Afrinvest, for going outside the scope of the contract to ensure that Rangers performed better away from home.

For him, the victory in the just concluded NPFL league season, meant that the club must look at general development, particularly the facilities.

“What our victory means is that we must look at the development of the facilities.

“We’ve gone round Africa to scout for players that will fit into era we’re entering now, which is the CAF Champions League. We’re going to do our best to make us proud on the African continent.

“We’re not just going to participate but compete favourably because we now have the means and the support base to do that.

“We believe that that the kind of coaches we have, we will rule Africa,” Ezeaku said.