STARS IN EUROPE - Mali - CLUB - Ternana sign ex-Liverpool, PSG and Valencia midfielder Sissoko

Mohamed Sissoko's move to Italian side Ternana.

17 Feb 2017
STARS IN ASIA - NIGERIA - CLUB - Oshoala joins Chinese side Dalian Quanjian

Asisat Oshoala helped Nigeria win the Africa Women Cup of Nations 2016.

16 Feb 2017
STARS IN EUROPE - GUINEA - Florentin Pogba - Europa League tie "won't be easy for Mum"

Guinea international Florentin Pogba admits ...

15 Feb 2017
STARS IN EUROPE - SENEGAL - CLUB - Mane double gives Liverpool victory

Sadio Mane lifted Liverpool's recent gloom by scoring twice.

12 Feb 2017
FIFA RANKING - February 2017 FOR AFRICA

Cameroon climb 29 places in Fifa rankings.

10 Feb 2017
STARS IN AFRICA - UGANDA - CLUB - Onyango signs new deal at Mamelodi Sundowns

Denis Onyango is rated by CAF as the best player in Africa.

9 Feb 2017
STARS IN ASIA - NIGERIA - CLUB - Ighalo joins Changchun Yatai

Watford’s striker Odion Ighalo joins Changchun Yatai for £20m.

8 Feb 2017
2017 AFRICA CUP - THIRD PLACE - DAY 17 - Burkina Faso vs Ghana 1:0

Day 17 - 30st match - 04 February 2017 - Burkina Faso win bronze medal.

4 Feb 2017

African Confederation Cup 2014 - Nkana prepare to take on Al Ahly

Zambian club Nkana hope a change of opponent and venue will bring success on a second visit to Cairo after being humiliated there two months ago.

A 5:0 drubbing from Zamalek at the Air Defence Stadium ended their Champions League campaign. Demoted to the second-tier Confed-Cup, Nkana upset Tunisians CA Bizertin to secure a place in the eight-club mini-league stage. And the Zambians could hardly have been given a more challenging first matchday assignment than playing away to Al Ahly, winners of a record 18 Confederation of African Football titles.

The clubs meet on Saturday at the Petro Sport Stadium in Cairo, and there will be no spectators because of previous clashes between Ahly supporters and police. Playing behind closed doors because of misbehaving fans or the tense Egyptian security situation is a hardship the Cairo 'Red Devils' have become used to, and if Nkana coach Masauso Mwale fears another nightmarish Cairo experience, he was not showing it at training in the Egyptian capital. "We realise what happened the last time we were here," he told reporters. "Lessons were learnt during the Zamalek game and I hope my players can use them to their advantage this weekend. "Ahly is a different game altogether and we are ready," was his reassuring message to Zambian football supporters.

The Egyptians also began this year in the Champions League, seeking a record third consecutive title after final victories over Tunisians Esperance and South Africans Orlando Pirates. But they came unstuck against Libyans Al Ahli Benghazi and followed Nkana and six other last-16 losers into the Confederation Cup play-offs. Caretaker coach Fathi Mabrouk, a 63-year-old who was promoted from youth team boss when Mohamed Youssef quit last month, respects Nkana. "They are a good team who play quick, physical football. After losing badly to Zamalek, they bounced back to eliminate Bizertin. "Forcing a draw in Tunisia was a wonderful achievement and we dare not underestimate them. "My intention is to win our first three group games and place one foot in the semi-finals. We want to add the Confederation Cup to our trophy cabinet."

Al Ahly have featured in the second-tier competition only once before and failed to get beyond the play-offs, losing on penalties to Angola's Santos despite building a three-goal first-leg advantage. No Egyptian club has won the Confederation Cup with ENPPI coming closest by reaching the 2009 semi-finals. Suspensions rule out Nkana defender Christopher Munthali and midfielder and captain Sydney Kalume while fit-again defender Sayed Moawad is available for Ahly.

Fellow Group B teams Sewe San Pedro and Tunisians Etoile du Sahel meet on Sunday in the Ivory Coast. Sewe impressed during the play-offs by defeating Bayelsa United 1:0 in Nigeria, a country where visiting clubs rarely triumph. Etoile are the most experienced of the eight title challengers having won the 2006 Confederation Cup and finished runners-up two seasons later.

Asec Mimosas, the other Ivorian contenders, return to Mali and face Real Bamako on Saturday in the only Group A fixture. The Abidjan club triumphed 2:0 against CO Bamako in the Malian capital during the qualifiers, thanks to goals from Koffi Boua and Foba Koffi.

Former title-holders AC Leopards postponed a home game against Cameroonians Coton Sport because their top players have been chosen by Congo for an Africa Cup of Nations eliminator in Namibia.

17 May 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

Related countries

Related articles