Nigeria and South Africa renew ”rivalry”

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The Elephant weathered the onslaught from the Dolphin and the Shark to prevail to the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup.

However, what lies ahead provides very little hope for the much-revered People’s Elephant.

Africa’s second-tier club competition took centre stage when its group stage draw concluded Monday afternoon with a number of tasty ties and hotly contested groups to look forward to. What particularly sticks out is the renewal of old rivalries from Nigeria v South Africa to the North African derbies.

After navigating a hotly contested tie against local rivals; River United, Enyimba were handed an even more daunting draw as they find themselves in the proverbial group of death in group A alongside South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, ES Setif of Algeria and Al Ahly Benghazi from Libya. The Nigeria v South Africa rivalry is one that has moved from the political and economic terrain to the Sports field and it’s one nobody wants to lose.

It will be very difficult for Nigeria’s representatives, Enyimba to progress from this group; the best they can hope for is to sneak into second place. ES Setif are the overwhelming favorites to progress from this group top of the pile. Setif and Pirates look strong enough to get a point away at Enyimba; results against Al Ahly Benghazi may be the tipping point for the eventual qualifiers from this group.

Defending Champions, RS Berkane headline group B and are favorites to progress with JS Kabyile as the pedigree of the North Africans cannot be overlooked. However, Cameroon’s Coton Sport are a team with an outside chance to cause an upset in the group, they also have some continental pedigree. Napsa Stars are the newbies on this stage, but their elimination of Kenyan giants, Gor Mahia; means they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

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Group C has an incomplete outlook with Tunisia’s still to play Young Buffaloes of eSwatini to confirm their place in the group. Etoile has an away first-leg lead and are expected to cruise home in the second leg. SC Sfaxien are the most successful club in this remodeled CAF competition and should be considered favorites to progress; ACF Jaraaf from Senegal and Salitas from Burkina Faso complete the group.

Namungo of Tanzania and Primeiro de Agosto of Angola still have scores to settle to grab the final slot in Group D; Raja Casablanca champions in 2018 and 2020 finalist; Pyramids from Egypt are the clear favorites to progress from the group. Zambia’s Nkana completes the group after knocking out Morocco side, Tihad Casablanca; with their pedigree on the continent; they would look to cause an upset.

Predicted Quarter-Final Teams:

• ES Setif (Algeria)
• Enyimba (Nigeria)
• RS Berkane (Morocco)
• JS Kabyile (Algeria)
• Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia)
• SC Sfaxien (Tunisia)
• Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
• Pyramids FC (Egypt)

 

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