El-Kanemi, Rangers, Remo Stars battle Africa in super weekend clashes

The battle in Africa’s inter-club championships will begin today with three of Nigeria’s best clubs, Enugu Rangers, Remo Stars, and El-Kanemi Warriors among the gladiators.

El-Kanemi defeated Abia Warriors 2-0 to win the President Federation Cup, which gave them the ticket to fly Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Confederation Cup.
 
To ensure that they get off to a good start in the competition, the club have called on football fans to come in their thousands to cheer them to victory in Ikenne.

In a message on their X handle, El-Kanemi said: “Get ready for the action. Our CAF Confederation Cup First Preliminary Round match.

“Mark your calendars and come cheer us on to victory! We are warriors. We are El-Kanemi.” The club last played in a continental competition in 1992.

After today’s game in Ikenne, attention will remain at the stadium as Remo Stars will begin their campaign, but this time in the CAF Champions League, where they will battle old foes, AS FAR of Morocco.

The Moroccan side eliminated Remo Stars in the CAF Confederation Cup two years ago, and Sunday’s game provides the right time for the Ikenne-based side to extract their pound of flesh from the North Africans.

Looking forward to a successful outing on Sunday, Remo Stars Media Director, Oladimeji Oshode, said that the team have learnt their lessons from the last meeting with the North Africans.

He assured their fans that they would do everything possible to ensure that “thunder will not strike twice.” Enugu Rangers have what appears the easiest game of the trio as they are up against US Zilimadjou of Comoros Island, in the CAF Champions League. 

But playing in Uyo, instead of their traditional Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, which CAF rejected as host of the game, has given them a bit of concern. This explains why the club has organised a special round-trip bus service to ensure their passionate supporters can travel in large numbers to Uyo for the highly anticipated clash.

But Rangers appear to have an advantage as the return leg of the tie will also be held in Uyo as CAF also rejected US Zilimadjou’s plea to play their home games in Moroni.

The return leg of the preliminary round encounter will be held on August 25.

Meanwhile, CAF has given all the teams, including Enyimba International of Aba, that are drawn bye from the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, and Confederation Cup a deadline of August 31 to complete their registration, and other formalities for the African inter-club competitions.

Enyimba are among the teams drawn bye from the first round of the competition due to their impressive performance in past competitions.  Other teams in the category are Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe, ES Tunis, Petro Luanda, Simba SC, ASEC Mimosas, RS Berkane, etc.