Remo Stars head coach Tiago Conde has openly backed South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns to go far in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League—rather than supporting fellow NPFL side Rivers United, who remain Nigeria’s only representative in the competition.

The Portuguese tactician made the remarks after his team suffered a heavy 7–1 aggregate defeat to the reigning South African champions, praising Sundowns’ quality and tipping them to reach at least the semi-finals of this season’s continental campaign, Footballrover reports.

Conde Hails Sundowns’ Quality After Remo Stars Exit

Speaking after their 2–0 second-leg loss at Loftus Versfeld, Conde described Sundowns as the most complete side in Africa at the moment, highlighting their blend of talent and tactical balance.

“I’m expecting that Mamelodi will be among three or four teams with the capacity to win this competition,” he said. “They have a mix of South African, Brazilian, and Portuguese players, and a Portuguese coach as well. I’m sure they can be champions.”

He also admitted that the level of competition in South Africa’s domestic league gives Sundowns an edge over Nigerian teams.

“The competition in South Africa seems more competitive and at a higher level than what we have in Nigeria. Because of that, Mamelodi were more prepared for these kinds of games than us,” Conde added.

Rivers United Fly Nigeria’s Flag Alone

While Conde’s comments could draw mixed reactions, Rivers United continue to uphold Nigeria’s hopes in the CAF Champions League after cruising past Mozambique’s Black Bulls to reach the group stage.

The Port Harcourt outfit advanced to the group stage of the competition with a commanding display, winning 3-1 in the return leg to complete a convincing aggregate victory.

Having represented Nigeria consistently in continental competitions over the past three seasons, Rivers United now carry the nation’s sole ambition on the continental stage—an effort some fans feel deserves more support.

Sundowns will discover their group-stage opponents when the draw is held on November 3 in Johannesburg, while Rivers United await their own challenge as they prepare to test their strength against Africa’s elite.

Like this post?
We’d be delighted to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the box below!

Last Updated on October 28, 2025 11:41 am by footballrover