CAFCC: 2-time African champions Enyimba get first round opponents

Published on by Andrew Randa

Nigeria's Enyimba will face Burkina Faso's Etoile Filante in the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup, marking another chapter in their long history in continental competitions.

The Aba-based side was the only Nigerian team to receive a bye from the preliminary stage of the competition, allowing them a direct entry into this round.

Enyimba get CAFCC opponents for next round
Photo by IMAGO

Enyimba to face Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso

Etoile Filante earned their place in the first round after a tightly contested encounter against Guinea's Hafia Conakry Football Club.

Both legs of the tie were played at the March 26 Stadium in Bamako, Mali, as neither team had a stadium approved by CAF for the games.

The first leg, considered a home game for Hafia, ended in a 1-1 draw, while the second leg was a goalless stalemate.

Etoile Filante advanced to the next round on the away goals rule, setting up an intriguing clash with Enyimba.

This fixture rekindles memories of the last meeting between the two teams in a CAF inter-club game back in 2002 during the CAF Champions League.

Enyimba dominated the first leg at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, winning 4-0.

Although Etoile Filante managed a 3-1 victory in the return leg, it wasn’t enough to overturn the aggregate score, and Enyimba advanced 5-3.

ENUGU, NIGERIA – JUNE 9: Nwana Asuquo of Enyimba during The Nigeria Premier Football League match between Rangers Intern
Photo by IMAGO

Can Enyimba make the group stage?

Enyimba will begin their quest to qualify for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup with an ‘away' game against Etoile Filante on September 13, with the match set to be played in Bamako pending CAF's approval.

The return leg will take place a week later at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Nigeria.

The Aba giants, who famously won the CAF Champions League back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, will be looking to add another chapter to their storied continental history.

CAFCC: 2-time African champions Enyimba get first round opponents

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)