FOOTBALL: Nigerian sides fall in CAF Champions League
Emmanuel Alfred
It was a day of disappointing results for the Nigerian contingents as they both lost narrowly to their opponents in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg ties.
Remo Stars lost 1-0 to Ghanaian champions Medeama SC at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday.
The lone goal was scored by Jonathan Sowah from outside the box in the 21st minute but the goals dried up for both sides despite the hosts piling more pressure on the Remo Stars’ defence.
In the second leg which will be held at Remo Stars next Sunday, Daniel Ogunmodede’s side will need to score two goals without conceding in the reverse fixture to scale through to the next round.
Elsewhere, Nigerian Champions, Enyimba FC on Sunday, suffered a 4-3 loss against Libyan side, Al Ahli Benghazi in an entertaining 2023/2024 CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg clash.
Striker, Chijioke Mboama had put the Peoples Elephants in front in the third minute but the lead could only last five minutes before the Libyans got an equaliser.
Left-back, Imo Obot diverted a cross into his own net to gift Al Ahli Benghazi a 2-1 lead three minutes before the break.
The second half produced more goals, with Eze Ekwutoziam and Murphy Ndukwu canceling Al Ahli Benghazi’s leads to put the score at 3-3 before a heartbreaking stoppage time winner for the hosts secured a 4-3 first-leg result.
Coach Finidi George’s tutored side will be buoyed by the narrow defeat and hope to overturn the deficit in seven days when the return leg is played at Nest of Champions, Uyo.
Photo Cover Credit: Sporting News
