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Tag: CAF Confederation Cup

  • Enyimba topple Orlando Pirates to advance into CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals

    Enyimba topple Orlando Pirates to advance into CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals

    Enyimba International Football Club of Aba advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup alongside visiting Orlando Pirates of South Africa on Wednesday.

    Cyril Olisema’s goal in added time of second half gave Enyimba a 1-0 win at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

    The win ensured Enyimba upstaged the South African side at the top of Group A table to advance as group winners on head-to-head advantage.

    Enyimba had lost 1-2 to Orlando Pirates when they met on Match Day 2 of the competition, but Wednesday’s 1-0 win was enough advantage for the Aba side.

    Both sides had finished on nine points each after six matches, but head-to-head calculation came in to separate both sides.

    They both go into Friday’s quarter-finals draw to know their next opponents.

    The other qualifiers for the quarter-finals are Raja Casablanca of Morocco, Coton Sport of Cameroon, JS Kabylie of Algeria, ASC Jaraaf of Senegal, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and Pyramids of Egypt.

  • Ahly Benghazi beat Enyimba to unsettle CAF Confederation Cup’s Group A

    Ahly Benghazi beat Enyimba to unsettle CAF Confederation Cup’s Group A

    Ahly Benghazi football club of Libya beat visiting Enyimba International 1-0 yesterday to ensure Group A of the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup will go to the wire on the final Match Day,

    Aba-based Nigerian side had needed a win to lead the group into Match Day 6, but Ahly’s win meant next Wednesday’s games will now be crucial to quarter-final qualification.

    In the rescheduled Match Day 5 fixture played at the Benina Martyrs stadium in Benghazi, Ahly pushed from the first minute.

    They were aiming for the maximum points which would give them the hope of reaching the quarter-finals.

    But they had to wait till the 40th minute to take the lead through Mutassim El Taib.

    The Libyan right winger received Aboubakr Meeld pass and sent a powerful shot past Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble to give his side a deserved lead.

    After the break, Enyimba threw everything in attack looking for the equaliser, but Ahly Benghazi’s goalkeeper Murad Alweehi came to his side’s rescue on several occasions.

    Enyimba had to finish the game with 10 men, after Timothy Danladi was sent off after 75 minutes.

    Victory ensured that Ahly Benghazi rose to Group A second place on seven points, two less than group leaders Orlando Pirates of South Africa.

    Enyimba follow in third place with six points, while Algeria’s ES Setif trail the group with five.

    With all four sides still hopeful of a place in the quarter-finals draw set for April 30, the final Match Day on Wednesday is now very crucial.

    Enyimba will take on Orlando Pirates in Aba, needing a clear victory to dislodge the South Africans and pick a quarter-final ticket.

    ES Setif welcome Ahly Benghazi in Setif, with the former needing more than a win to advance, while the Libyan side need to win too to secure top place.

  • 2020/21 CAF Confed. Cup: Results from Day 2, Group matches played on Wednesday

    2020/21 CAF Confed. Cup: Results from Day 2, Group matches played on Wednesday

    Here are results from Day 2 matches in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, played on Wednesday across Africa.

    Group A
    Orlando Pirates (South Africa) 2-1 Enyimba (Nigeria).
    Ahly Benghazi (Libya) 1-0 E.S. Setif (Algeria).

    Group B
    Coton Sport (Cameroon) 2-0 RS Berkane (Morocco)
    Napsa Stars (Zambia) 2-2 JS Kabylie (Algeria).

    Group C
    Salitas (Burkina Faso) 1-0 Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
    Jaaraf (Senegal) 1-1 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

    Group D
    Nkana FC (Zambia) 0-2 Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
    Namungo (Tanzania) 0-2 Pyramids (Egypt)

    Day 3 matches will be played on 4 April.

  • 2020/21 CAF Confed. Cup: 15 teams qualify for group stage

    2020/21 CAF Confed. Cup: 15 teams qualify for group stage

    The following teams are through to the group stage of the 2020/21 CAF Confederation Cup after matches were concluded on Sunday in the second-leg, play-off round, played across Africa.

    The qualifiers are defending champions RS Berkane of Morocco, Raja Casablanca of Morocco, Enyimba of Nigeria, Pyramids of Egypt, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, ES Sétif of Algeria, JS Kabylie of Algeria, Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Coton Sport of Cameroon, Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya, ASC Diaraf of Senegal, NAPSA Stars of Zambia, Salitas of Burkina Faso, Étoile du Sahel, Tunisia, and Nkana of Zambia.

    RS Berkane advanced directly to the group stage as the winners of the first round with the best CAF 5-Year Ranking following Gazelle’s withdrawal from the competition after being transferred from the Champions League.

    Namungo FC (Tanzania) vs 1º de Agosto, Angola, is postponed.

    Here are the second-leg results. First-leg results are in brackets.

    Rivers United, Nigeria 1-0 Enyimba, Nigeria (0-1) – Enyimba through on 5-4 penalties.

    ASC Diaraf, Senegal 1-0 FC Platinum, Zimbabwe (1-0) – Diaraf through on 2-0 aggregate.

    US Monastir, Tunisia 1-0 Raja Casablanca, Morocco (0-1) – Raja qualify on 6-5 penalty shootout.

    AS Kigali, Rwanda 1-1 CS Sfaxien, Tunisia (1-4) – Sfaxien qualified on 5-1 aggregate.

    TAS Casablanca, Morocco 2-1 Nkana, Zambia (0-2) – Nkana qualify on 3-2 goals aggregate.

    NAPSA Stars, Zambia 2-2 Gor Mahia, Kenya (1-0) – NAPSA qualify on 3-2 aggregate.

    Salitas, Burkina Faso 3-1 vs AS Bouenguidi, Gabon (0-1) – Salitas qualify on 3-2 aggregate.

    ES Sétif, Algeria 0-0 Asante Kotoko, Ghana (2-1) – ES Sétif through qualify on 2-1 aggregate.

    Étoile du Sahel, Tunisia walk over Young Buffaloes, Eswatini (2-1) – win by walk over after winning the first leg 2-1.

    Coton Sport, Cameroon 1-0 AS SONIDEP, Niger (1-0) – Coton Sport through on 2-0 aggregate.

    DC Motema Pembe, DR Congo 1-1 Al Ahly Benghazi, Libya (1-1) – Benghazi through on 8-7 penalty shootout.

    JS Kabylie, Algeria 1-0 Stade Malien, Mali (1-2) – JS Kabylie qualify on away goals rule.

    Pyramids, Egypt 2-0 RC Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (2-0) – Pyramids advance on 4-0 aggregate win.

    Orlando Pirates, South Africa 1-0 Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana (3-0) – Orlando Pirates through on 4-0 aggregate.

    The draw for the group stage will be held on 22 February, 2021, at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba lose 2-0 away to Hassania Agadir

    CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba lose 2-0 away to Hassania Agadir

    Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Sunday went down to a 2-0 defeat against Moroccan side, Hassania Agadir in their CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash at the Stade Al Inbiaâte.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
    Karim El Berkaoui opened scoring for the home team in the 14th minute, while Senegalese forward Malick Cisse added the second five minutes later.

    Enyimba battled hard to get back into the game but were unable to breach the hosts’ defence.

    In the other Group D game, San Pedro of Cote d’l voire were held to a 0-0 at home by Algerian club, Paradou A.C.

    The Aba-based club side will host San Pedro at the Enyimba International Stadium on Dec. 8 in a Matchday two encounter.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba secure 2-0 home win over TS Galaxy of South Africa

    CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba secure 2-0 home win over TS Galaxy of South Africa

    Enyimba International of Aba on Sunday secured a 2-0 win over TS Galaxy of South Africa in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup playoffs in Aba.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the win boosted their chances of making it to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Enyimba took the lead in the seventh minute through Victor Mbaoma, who slotted the ball home after he was set up by Abdulrahman Bashir.

    Substitute Martins Usule netted the second goal for the home team on the hour mark.

    TS Galaxy, however gave a good account of themselves in Aba courtesy of their attractive passing game.

    The South African second division outfit were denied a goal late in the game by Enyimba goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.

    The return leg will be played next week in South Africa with the overall winners advancing to the group stage of the Confederation Cup.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Pelicans to seal pre-group stage playoffs spot

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Pelicans to seal pre-group stage playoffs spot

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have sealed a place in the the pre-group stage playoffs of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

    This was after they thrashed AS Pelicans of Gabon 3-1 in the return leg match of the second preliminary round on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Antelopes went through 4-3 on aggregate, having lost 1-2 in the first leg match about two weeks earlier.

    The hosts came out fighting immediately after the kick-off and fired a warning shot to the Gabonese side after two minutes.

    This was when defender Semiu Liadi directed his headed effort into the side netting from a Chidera Eze free-kick at the edge of the Pelicans penalty box.

    But three minutes later, Liadi went into the referee’s book when he tripped goalbound Cruz Ndong Enteghe on the edge of Rangers penalty box.

    Dertin Amores wasted no effort and planted a left foot kick into the top corner to give Pelicans a shock lead in the fifth minute.

    Having gone behind so early in the game, the Flying Antelopes poured out in numbers, piling series of attacks into their opponents’ vital area in search of goals.

    The chances came in trickles but poor decisions in the final third cost them time and again.

    Their efforts were, however, rewarded in the 19th minute when Ifeanyi George took advantage of a moment of indecision between Pelicans’ defenders and the goalkeeper to head in the equaliser.

    Rangers grew in confidence, dominant in their play and had an appeal for a penalty kick waved away by the referee when Tope Olusesi went to the ground inside the box under a slight challenge.

    But the ball came back gloriously to George who fired inches over the crossbar when he should have scored.

    Both sides went into the half-time break on equal terms with the visitors holding a 3-2 aggregate advantage.

    Rangers came back in the second period more dominant as highlighted by two quick goals.

    Nnamdi Egbujuo headed in from a corner kick five minutes after the restart to give the hosts a 2-1 lead and 3-3 on aggregate.

    Five minutes later, Oluwatoyin Olawoyin made it 3-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate for Rangers when he scrambled in the ball during a goalmouth tussle.

    Coach Benedict Ugwu refreshed his team’s attack early in the second half, leading to the rush of goals, with the introduction of Chinonso Ezekwe for Chidera Eze.

    He later substituted veteran Bartholomew Ibenegbu for Kenechukwu Agu as the home side pressed for more goals.

    With 12 minutes left on the clock, Pelicans forward Odile Ombio forced a fantastic save from Rangers goalkeeper Japhet Opubo, following a cross from the right flank.

    With the 3-1 advantage on the night, Rangers resorted to game management and defended in numbers to contain the now adventurous Pelicans strikers to run away victors at the end of a pulsating encounter.

  • CAF Confederation Cup : Rangers lose 1- 2 to AS Pelican in Libreville

    CAF Confederation Cup : Rangers lose 1- 2 to AS Pelican in Libreville

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Saturday lost 1 – 2 to Gabonese club, AS Pelican in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup, first round clash in Libreville.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hosts raced to a two-goal lead early in the game before Nnamdi Egbujuo reduced the deficit for the Flying Antelopes before the break.

    Rangers fought hard to get the much needed equaliser but fell short against a resolute Pelican defence.

    The Enugu club side will need to score at least a goal in the reverse fixture without conceding to scale through to the next round.

    The second leg will be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sept. 29.

    NAN also reports that the Flying Antelopes are looking to become the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Confederation Cup.

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Bantu FC 2-1 to reach group stage

    CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers beat Bantu FC 2-1 to reach group stage

    Rangers International Football Club of Enugu has qualified for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup group stage after beating Bantu FC of Lesotho 2-1 in Enugu.

    Ranger qualified to the group stage on 4-2 aggregate after beating the team 2-1 in the first and second leg of the second round of the ongoing CAF Confederation cup.

    The visitors opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Lethlohonolo Fothoane.

    Ajani Ibrahim equalised for the home team in the 18th minute while Godwin Aguda made it 2-1 for Rangers before the break.

    The two teams laboured after the interval without any goal to show for it as Rangers was the worst culprits of the two teams.

    The flying antelopes lost several chances in the second 45th minutes but held on to qualify on a 4-2 aggregate.

    Speaking to newsmen after the match, Bantu coach, James Madidilani said that his team undoing in the match was their slow in transition.

    ”We were too slow in transition compare to Rangers as the home team moved the ball faster than we can cope.

    ”This is a lesson and more exposure for us as we are going to add to our game the positive things discovered in the cause of the two legs to help us in the Lesotho league.

    Rangers Coach, Olugbenga Ogunbote said that beating Bantu FC home and away was an addition to the team`s confidence in going into the group stage.

    ”This is a team from the Champion s league and beating them home and away shows that we are growing with the competition,” he said.

    Ogunbote noted that their secret of success in the competition was hard work and God as they were on six matches unbeaten run.

    He promised that Rangers would come well in the group stage as they were going to do more work on the team and study their opponent match tapes after the draw.