Nigerian clubs kicked off their 2025/26 CAF inter-club campaigns over the weekend, recording mixed results across the Champions League and Confederation Cup. While NPFL champions Remo Stars enjoyed a comfortable win on home soil, Abia Warriors and Kwara United endured more difficult outings in their respective first-leg ties.
At the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Remo Stars lived up to expectations with a dominant 4–0 thrashing of Comoros’ US Zilimadjou in their CAF Champions League preliminary round encounter. The Sky Blue Stars wasted no time asserting themselves, with Leonard Ngenge opening the scoring in the 12th minute from a well-worked corner routine. Just before the break, Ebuka Anthony doubled the advantage, giving Daniel Ogunmodede’s side a commanding lead going into the second half.
The hosts maintained their momentum after the restart. Malian forward Adama Goita made it three with a powerful header off a cross from Ibrahim Abubakar, before substitute Samson Olasupo sealed the rout with a fourth goal late in the game. The result puts Remo Stars firmly in the driver’s seat ahead of the second leg, which, interestingly, will also be played at the same venue in Abeokuta — serving as the adopted home ground for both sides.
Meanwhile, in the Confederation Cup, Abia Warriors were left to rue missed chances after settling for a 1–1 draw against Djoliba of Mali at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Emeka Obioma gave the Warriors an early lead with a well-placed header in the 21st minute, sending the home crowd into celebration. But the Nigerian debutants, making their first-ever appearance in continental football, failed to capitalize on their advantage and were punished with a late equaliser by the visitors.
The result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg in Bamako, where the Warriors must now avoid defeat to stand any chance of progressing to the next round.
In Accra, Kwara United fell narrowly to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in what was arguably the most entertaining match of the weekend. The Harmony Boys battled bravely in a high-scoring affair but ultimately lost 4–3 in the first leg of their Confederation Cup qualifier. Tunde Sanni’s side matched their hosts for large portions of the game and went into halftime level at 2–2.
However, defensive lapses in the second half allowed Kotoko to regain control, with the Ghanaians eventually edging ahead. Despite a spirited fightback, Kwara United couldn’t find the equaliser and now face the uphill task of overturning the one-goal deficit in the return leg, which will be played at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
Elsewhere, Nigeria’s other Champions League representatives, Rivers United, held their own away from home, securing a goalless draw against Aigles du Congo in Kinshasa. The result keeps their hopes very much alive heading into the return leg in Port Harcourt.
While Remo Stars clearly emerged as the weekend’s standout performers, Abia Warriors and Kwara United must now dig deep if they are to keep the Nigerian flag flying high in the CAF inter-club competitions. With the return fixtures set to be played this week, fans across the country will be hoping for more positive results and, ultimately, progression to the next round for all four clubs.
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