Remo Stars Make History Debut In CAF Club Tournament In Morocco On Sunday

Nigeria representative in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup, Remo Stars are ready for their biggest match ever with debut in continental match in Morocco.

The team finished third on Nigeria Professional Football League table to earn the slot will travel with 20 players and 12 back-room staff members. The delegation will depart Lagos aboard the club owner’s chattered flight, ValueJet on Saturday morning for their Sunday night potentially explosive match with one of the biggest Moroccan clubs, AS FAR.

The Sunday match is the first time since 1 November 1987 that a club from Ogun State of Nigeria will be involved in a continental match. The last time an Ogun State team played a continental game was when Abiola Babes of Abeokuta played against Esperance of Tunisia in 1987.

Now for the first time in the history of the Sky blue stars, the coach Daniel Ogunmodede led side will be playing in Africa’s inter club competition, this time, the second tier, the CAF Confederation Cup.

Here are all you need to know about the soon to be a historic day for the club.

ROAD TO THE COMPETITION

Remo Stars finished third on the NPFL 2021/22 table to gain one of the two available CAF confederation cup slot in the country’s topflight league

OPPONENT

On the 9th of August, the CAF draws paired Remo Stars against Moroccan side, Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal (ASFAR) in the preliminary round.

ASFAR is a well known club for the success of its football section, very popular in and outside Morocco. The team has played its home matches in the 53,000 capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in downtown Rabat since 1983.

ASFAR is one of the most successful clubs in Morocco with 30 titles in total: 12 Botolas, 12 Moroccan Throne Cups, 4 Moroccan Super Cups, 1 Botola 2, 1 African Champions League and 1 African Confederation Cup. They were the first Moroccan team to win the CAF Champions League in 1985.

VENUE

The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Rabat, Morocco. It is named after Prince Moulay Abdellah of Morocco.

It is currently used mostly for football matches and it can also stage athletics. The stadium has an occupancy of 53,000 people.

The stadium was used for the final of the just-ended 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals.

TRAVELING TEAM

Twenty players with 12 backroom staffs, supporters, top club officials with selected journalists will fly to Morocco on Saturday aboard a ValueJet chattered flight via the Muritala Mohammed International Airport.

KICKOFF TIME

The first leg fixture will kickoff 8pm Nigeria time.

Due to CAF rules and regulation, the players will wear a replica of the 2022/23 new jersey but without the sponsors tag.