- Remo Stars secured a 2-1 victory over North African opponents at home
- Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu reflects on missed opportunities in Rangers' first leg
- El Kanemi Warriors grabbed a last-gasp equaliser against FC Dadje
Nigerian clubs in the CAF Champions League, Remo Stars and Rangers International put on commendable displays in their preliminary matches on Sunday, August 18.
Remo Stars edged their North African opponents 2-1 at home in Ikenne, while Enugu Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over US Zilimadjou from Comoros in Uyo.
Remo Stars, Rangers begin CAF campaigns on a high note
The victory for Remo Stars was secured through goals from defenders Nduka Junior and Sodiq Ismail, who scored in the first and second halves, respectively.
The game started with both sides creating early chances, including a shot on goal by AS FAR’s Ahmed that was saved by the Remo Stars goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Nduka Junior headed in from a well-taken free kick by Sodiq Ismail. Although AS FAR equalized early in the second half, Remo Stars' tactical changes paid off, with Sodiq Ismail netting the winner in the 68th minute.
Remo Stars’ coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, also acknowledged the need for improvement in the second leg, noting, “We expect a lot of hostility and antics on and off the field... but we are prepared.”
As the teams gear up for their return fixtures, they remain optimistic about their chances of progressing in the competition.
Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers’ 22nd-minute strike from Frank Uwumiro proved decisive against US Zilimadjou in Uyo.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, reflecting on the Rangers' match, lamented the missed chances, stating,
“It was a game we had control over in the first stanza and could have scored more goals, that would have killed any fightback from our opponent.”
“We lowered our guard in the second stanza and they came out to attack but we stood out to see off the encounter,” he told reporters after the game.”
“We will go back to the drawing board to prepare very well for the return leg and we are positive going forward.”
The win, however, keeps Rangers in a strong position for the return leg.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors salvaged a dramatic 1-1 draw against FC Dadje on Saturday, August 17. A 95th-minute header from substitute Gimba Ajiji saved the Warriors from defeat after falling behind in the 30th minute. With the second leg in Cotonou looming, Nigerian clubs will be looking to build on these promising results.
The coming fixtures will determine if these teams can advance further in the competition.
CAF Champions League: Enugu Rangers return, Remo Stars face tough Moroccan test
Previously, TheRadar reported that Nigerian league champions Rangers International and Remo Stars are set to compete in the CAF Champions League, while Enyimba and Elkanemi Warriors will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Over the past two years, the CAF Executive has made substantial investments in African club football. The prize money for the CAF Champions League winners has been raised to $4,000,000, a significant increase from the $2,500,000 that Wydad Casablanca received for winning the 2022 final.
