Nigeria’s path to the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup group stage has once again brought the country’s clubs face-to-face with the enduring power of North African football.
Shooting Stars have been handed a daunting second preliminary-round tie against three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, while El-Kanemi Warriors could face another North African heavyweight, Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca, if they overcome Benin Republic’s UDIB.
For the Nigerian representatives, the draw is a reminder of the enormous continental hurdle posed by clubs from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
A familiar continental problem for Nigeria
North Africa’s dominance of the Confederation Cup is difficult to ignore.
Since the competition was established in 2004, North African clubs have won 18 of the 23 completed editions, including the last four.
The region has produced multiple champions through CS Sfaxien, Raja Casablanca, Zamalek, RS Berkane, USM Alger, Al Ahly, Etoile du Sahel and other heavyweight clubs. CAF notes that the 2025/26 final between USM Alger and Zamalek was the ninth all-North African final, while five of the last eight finals had featured two clubs from the region.
Nigeria, by comparison, has never won the Confederation Cup.
The country’s best performance came in 2005, when Dolphins reached the final. CAF also records Nigeria as the country with the most different representatives in the competition , 24 since 2004 highlighting the gap between participation and conversion into continental success.
Shooting Stars face a proven continental force
Shooting Stars’ challenge is particularly significant.
CS Sfaxien are not merely another Tunisian opponent. They are the competition’s record three-time winners, having lifted the trophy in 2007, 2008 and 2013.
The Ibadan club must therefore negotiate a tie against one of the most experienced sides in Confederation Cup history before they can even think about the next qualifying hurdle.
And should Shooting Stars prevail, another West African tie against either Côte d’Ivoire’s AF Amadou Diallo or Sierra Leone’s East End Lions awaits.
El-Kanemi’s potential Raja obstacle
El-Kanemi Warriors have a seemingly more manageable first assignment against UDIB of Benin Republic.
But qualification would immediately bring a much bigger test.
Raja Casablanca, twice Confederation Cup champions, are waiting on the other side of the bracket.
The Moroccan giants have already demonstrated their ability to eliminate Nigerian opposition in this competition, beating Enyimba in the 2018 semi-finals before going on to win the title.
The recent record also underlines the scale of the problem.
Enyimba were drawn against Egyptian giants Zamalek and Al Masry in the 2024/25 Confederation Cup group stage and failed to record a win against either Egyptian opponent, eventually exiting in third place.
North Africa’s continental advantage
The problem extends beyond individual match-ups.
North African clubs have built a sustained ecosystem around continental football, combining stronger financial resources, deeper squads, greater continental experience and regular exposure to high-pressure CAF knockout football.
CAF’s wider Champions League history tells the same story, with the governing body describing Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia as the countries whose clubs have particularly dominated the competition in the modern era.
For Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi, however, the immediate task is straightforward.
Shooting Stars must find a way past CS Sfaxien.
El-Kanemi must first eliminate UDIB, knowing that doing so could earn them a blockbuster showdown with Raja Casablanca.
For Nigerian clubs seeking a return to the group-stage elite, North Africa once again stands firmly in the way.
The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces of Nigeria has sustained an unrelenting multi-layered campaign of coordinated land, air and maritime operations across all geo-political zones.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the Joint Security Press Briefing organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Uba said under the strategic leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, troops executed 588 distinct security operations in September and October.
He said troops neutralised 435 terrorists and bandits, including high-profile commanders like Ali Mandara, Abba Gajiri, Habu Ikkima, Nakif Yana Faruk, Commander Gogore and Abdussamad Ohida.
He also said that troops arrested 809 suspects, secured the voluntary surrender of 198 insurgents and successfully liberated 717 kidnapped victims and captives.
Uba listed the rescued victims to include 20 prospective NYSC members in Owerri, Imo, and 11 individuals in Danko-Wasagu, Kebbi.
According to him, troops recorded major tactical breakthroughs in Buniyadi, Baga, Kukawa, Bittai and the Owo forest, which severely fractured enemy networks.
He added that to dismantle their war-making capacity, troops recovered 5,666 arms, ammunition, explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices, alongside vital logistical assets.
He said that in the Niger Delta, economic protection operations destroyed 57 illegal refining sites and recovered over 1,061,000 litres of stolen petroleum products thereby directly boosting national crude production.
The defence spokesman said while security hotspots persist in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna States, forces continue to adapt through aggressive synergy clearance patrols and deep inter-agency.
He also said that beyond tactical theatres, the DHQ championed indigenous defence manufacturing and technology transfer at Africa International Defence Exhibition 2026.
He further said that the DHQ also convened high-level regional forums to reposition the Multinational Joint Task Force in Lake Chad basin and prioritised personnel welfare through veteran engagement tours and launch of Defence Discount Shop in partnership with Konga and Zinox.(NAN)
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has inaugurated the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council as the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue begins preparations for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alia in the 2027 general elections.
Alia said Nigeria and Benue State had no reason to look elsewhere, insisting that he was steadily delivering on his promises while President Tinubu was also making progress and providing relentless support to the state to regain its lost glory.
The Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council, which has Hon Citizen Richard Asema as Director-General, was inaugurated by the governor at IBB Square on Thursday. The event was followed by the commissioning of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Office at Wurukum, Makurdi.
Speaking during the occasion, Governor Alia charged members of the council to demonstrate unity, commitment and dedication, describing their appointments as a reflection of the confidence reposed in them by the party leadership and the people of Benue State.
The governor also urged party members in the state to put aside personal grievances, embrace reconciliation and work collectively towards securing victory for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
He described the Director-General, Citizen Asema, as an experienced political leader with the capacity to coordinate the campaign and deliver the desired result.
Highlighting his achievements in office, Governor Alia attributed the successes recorded by his administration in security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and industrialisation to the cooperation and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government.
He particularly acknowledged federal interventions that had strengthened security operations and supported efforts to restore peace to previously troubled communities in the state.
The governor also listed the recruitment of 9,700 primary school teachers, improvements in public school infrastructure, regular payment of salaries and pensions, road construction and the establishment of agricultural processing facilities among the achievements of his administration.
He noted that the partnership between the state and the federal government had contributed significantly to these developments.
On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that efforts to connect all 23 local government areas of the state through road networks were nearing completion, with approximately 25 per cent of the work remaining.
He also cited the revival and completion of previously abandoned projects, including Taraku Mills, the International Conference Centre at IBB Square and the Cancer Centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, as evidence of his administration's commitment to continuity.
He promised that, if re-elected, he would concentrate on consolidating existing achievements rather than starting new projects from scratch.
According to the governor, his administration remained committed to implementing its development blueprint since assuming office in 2023 and would focus on sustaining ongoing initiatives, strengthening completed projects and ensuring that public investments delivered lasting benefits if re-elected in 2027.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, the governor further stated that industrialisation, agriculture and strategic investments in education, healthcare and commerce would remain central to his administration's determination to break the cycle of poverty and expand economic opportunities for the people.
He expressed confidence that Benue's enormous agricultural potential, coupled with its emerging oil and gas prospects, could provide the state with the resources needed to build a stronger economy and generate substantial internal revenue, thereby reducing its dependence on federal allocations.