Rangers, Enyimba headline Confed Cup action on Sunday

by Staff Reporter

Friday Nov 29, 2019. 13:00

The group stage of the 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup gets underway with eight matches across the continent on Sunday 1 December, headlined by Nigerian representatives Enugu Rangers and Enyimba International, as well as last season’s runners-up, RS Berkane of Morocco, hosting Benin dark horses ESAE.

The action begins with two afternoon games, as Motema Pembe of the DR Congo host Zambia’s Zanaco at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa in a Group B clash, while a Group A battle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu sees Rangers take on Egypt’s Pyramids.

The Flying Antelopes are somewhat in turmoil after sacking coach Benedict Ugwu last weekend, prompting the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to offer technical support as they head into their first continental group stage campaign since 2004.

South African representatives Bidvest Wits welcome Guinea club Horoya AC in Group C for one of four games kicking off in the early evening. This slot also features RS Berkane, who got as far as the final last season before succumbing to Egyptian giants Zamalek, facing an ESAE side which has proved its worth by overcoming Salitas (Burkina Faso) and Generation Foot (Senegal) in the final two qualifying rounds.

The early evening is completed by Libya’s Al Nasr hosting Malian side Djoliba in Cairo on Group C, and Algeria’s Paradou heading to the Ivory Coast to tackle San Pedro in Group D.

The two night games see Morocco’s Hassania Agadir (who reached the quarterfinals last season) hosting Enyimba at Stade Al Inbiaate in Group D, at the same time that Mauritania’s Nouadhibou welcome Al Masry of Egypt to Stade Cheikha Ould Boidiya in Nouakchott.

Enyimba defender Ifeanyi Anaemena believes his side can go deep in the Confederation Cup this season: “I hear people say Enyimba is not going to qualify because of the tough teams in the group, but I believe we can do well.

“I believe we can qualify from the group because two seasons ago, we got to the semifinal, now I know we can get to the final and I know if we should work hard and put the necessary things together, we can reach the final.”

CAF Confederation Cup – Group Stage, Matchday 1 fixtures

All times CAT

Sunday 1 December

15:00: Enugu Rangers v Pyramids

15:00: Motemba Pembe v Zanaco

18:00: Al Nasr v Djoliba

18:00: RS Berkane v ESAE

18:00: Bidvest Wits v Horoya

18:00: San Pedro v Paradou

21:00: Hassania Agadir v Enyimba

21:00: Nouadhibou v Al Masry