Sports

CAF Champions League : Rangers, Rivers United Express Confidence After Draw

Published

9 years ago

December 23, 2016

Both Nigeria’s represen
tatives in next year’s CAF Champions League, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United, have expressed confidence they will fight their way to the top of the premier African club competition after a draw that revealed their preliminary round foes.
Rangers will battle little known Algerian club J.S Saoura, while Rivers United are up against AS Real Bamako of Mali.
The first leg matches are to be played between February 10-12 with the return leg slated for between February 17-19.
Winners of the Rangers tie will play this year’s beaten finalists Zamalek of Egypt in the first round, while overall winners of the Rivers United preliminary clash will play either El Merrikh of Sudan or Sony Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
“We’ve been preparing for Africa,” said Rangers team manager Ameobi Ezeaku.
“We have to take each game as it comes.
“The Algerian side are a decent side, but we will be mentally and physically fit to play them.”
“We are going away from home for the first leg, which is good for Rivers United,” said star forward Bernard Ovoke in his own reaction to the draw.
“We will go as much as we can to push the Malians so that in the return leg we will wrap it up to qualify to the second round of the Champions League.
“We are not afraid of AS Real Bamako.
“We have fully prepared for the CAF Champions League, even if the match were to be played tomorrow we are ready to play.”
The Malians have already lost striker Ibrahima Traore to another Nigerian club FC Ifeanyi Ubah last month.
Nico Dao is also another former AS Real Bamako player who is currently on the books of Ifeanyi Ubah.
They have been crowned Malian champions on six previous occasions (1969, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986 and 1991)
They have participated in the CAF Champions League on seven previous occasions. Their best performance in the competition came in 1966 when they lost in the final

Sports

RSG Pledges To Develop Baseball

Published

9 hours ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Government has pledged to provide training pitch for Baseball in the State.

The Director of Sports in Rivers State Sports Council, Obia Inyengiyikabo made pledge on Tuesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the five days Intensive Capacity Development Course For Baseball Coaches.

Inyengiyikabo said the State Government has given priority to sport development.

” Yes we are happy for the five days Intensive Capacity development programme for baseball coaches in Nigeria.Sure by the grace of God the Governor of the State Sir Siminialayi Fubara will provide Baseball pitch.

” This programme, I am sure will be an eye opener for our youth to fall in love with the game. I appreciate the Global Sports Partners for finding Rivers State worthy host the programme”, Inyengiyikabo stated.

Meanwhile the Director of Global Sports Partner’s Coach Justin Rhondes from United States of America ( USA) expressed joy for the turnout.

He stated that seeing the coaches and players impressive turnout was indication the game was popular in Nigeria.

” We Global Sports Partners, our key word is partner, so for us we are ready to come back to Nigeria any time.

“The few days we have stayed Coaches and players has benefited a lot from the programme”, he said.

Kiadum Edookor

Sports

CAFCL : Rivers United Arrives DR Congo

Published

10 hours ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt contingent, comprising players, technical crew, backroom staff, and officials, depart the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos State on Wednesday, bound for Kinshasa, DR Congo.

The team is set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the first-round first-leg match of the CAF Champions League.

This was contained in a press release signed by the media officer of the club, Charles Mayuku and made available to Tidesports on Wednesday.

He said that the highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at the 80,000-capacity Kinshasa-Complexe Omnisports Stade des Martyrs on morrow with kickoff slated for 3:30pm.

According to the statement the encounter marks the first-ever meeting between both sides in any competition, adding that an air of excitement and unpredictability to the fixture.

“As the Pride of Nigeria embarks on this crucial journey, the team is determined to return with a decent result that will set them up favorably for the second leg on Sunday, 28th September” the statement said.

Sports

FIFA rankings: S’Eagles drop Position, remain sixth in Africa

Published

10 hours ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have slipped one place in the latest FIFA World Rankings, falling from 44th to 45th globally while maintaining sixth position on the African continent.

The new rankings, released via FIFA’s official X handle on Thursday, reflect the team’s continued struggles under Coach Eric Chelle amid a stuttering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

This marks a second consecutive decline after the Nigerian side dropped from 43rd to 44th in August on the back of poor outings in recent international matches.

Despite Nigeria’s setback, several African teams made progress. Morocco remains the continent’s highest-ranked side, sitting 11th in the world after winning eight of their last nine matches. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire complete Africa’s top five.

Lesotho slipped to 153rd place, while Benin Republic, Nigeria’s upcoming opponent, climbed to 93rd. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who held the Super Eagles to a 1-1 draw in June, rose to 55th, strengthening their bid for World Cup qualification.

Zimbabwe had the biggest slide down the ranking table, dropping nine places to 125th position in the world.

The rankings highlight Nigeria’s struggle to regain form on the global stage as key rivals continue to surge ahead.

Similarly, the Super Falcons of Nigeria remain 36th best in the world], while the Spanish female national team replaced the USA at the top of the women’s ranking.