At the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Remo Stars made a statement opening to their CAF Champions League (CAFCL) preliminary round by trouncing US Zilimadjou of Comoros 4-0.

Remo, the reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, returned to continental football for the fourth successive season with the aim of getting past the preliminary round for the first time. Up against Zilimadjou, the Comoros champions whom Rangers International dispatched 2-1 on aggregate last season, the tie offered little guarantees for Remo.

However, the Daniel Ogunmodede-led side started the game brightly and took only 12 minutes to get a deserved lead courtesy of Leonard Ngenge, who found the net from close range off a loose ball from a corner kick. In the nick of first-half stoppage time, the Sky Blue Stars doubled their lead via Ebuka Anthony. The former Plateau United midfielder was played through by Chigozie Chilekwu, who outwitted his markers after Abubakar Ibrahim’s buildup.

A few minutes into the second half and after two substitutions from Remo, the Nigerian champions extended their lead when Adama Goita headed home from a deft cross by Abubakar. The rout was then sealed in the 80th minute as substitute Haruna Hadi combined with fellow substitute Samson Olasupo to add a fourth for the Sky Blue Stars.

The victory puts Remo in a strong position ahead of the second leg on Friday, September 26, at MKO Stadium, due to the Comoros side’s structural deficit. In the absence of any shocker, the Sky Blue Stars will face South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the continent’s powerhouses who featured at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Meanwhile, in other continental outings involving Nigerian clubs,  Rivers United held FC Les Aigles to a goalless draw in Kinshasa, Congo in the CAFCL. In the CAF Confederations Cup, Abia Warriors were also held to a 1-1 home draw by Mali’s Djoliba while Kwara United fell 4-3 to Ghana’s Asante Kotoko.