Nigerian clubs Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars kicked off their CAF Champions League qualifying campaigns with victories on Sunday, aiming to become the first Nigerian champions since 2004.
Frank Uwumiro scored midway through the first half, securing a narrow 1-0 ‘away’ win for Enugu Rangers against Zilimadjou of the Comoros in Uyo. Due to the Comoros lacking an international-standard stadium, both legs of the first-round, first-leg match were held in the southeastern Nigerian city. Rangers, who won the now-defunct African Cup Winners Cup in 1977, hope to replicate the success of back-to-back CAF champions Enyimba, the only Nigerian team to have won the competition.
Remo Stars also impressed, overcoming a setback early in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory over former African champions FAR Rabat of Morocco in Ikenne. Nduku Junior's first-half goal for Remo was canceled out by Joel Beya, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, six minutes into the second half. However, Ismaila Sodiq restored Remo’s lead in the 66th minute, and the team held on to this advantage, setting up an intriguing return leg on August 25 in the Moroccan capital.
Meanwhile, Egyptian clubs continue to dominate the competition, with 12-time champions Al Ahly leading the pack. Pyramids FC, another Egyptian team, signaled their strong intentions this season by thrashing JKU of Zanzibar 6-0, with Mohanad Lasheen scoring twice. Al Ahly, having received a bye into the second round scheduled for September, will face either Merreikh Bentiu of South Sudan or Gor Mahia of Kenya. Bentiu stunned Gor, the only Kenyan club to have won a CAF competition, by taking a 1-0 lead in Juba with a second-half goal from Mohammed Musa.
Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates, the first South African team to win the Champions League, played out a 0-0 draw away to debutants Disciples of Madagascar. Newcomers Samartex of Ghana look poised to advance to the second and final qualifying round after Emmanuel Mamah’s goal just after half-time secured a 1-0 away victory over Victoria United of Cameroon.
