Fijabi Olanrewaju
IT was a mixed bag for Nigeria at the weekend as two clubs involved on the continent recorded a win and thereby progressed to the next stage as well as a loss, thereby crashing out.
On Friday, El-Kanemi Warriors were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup after losing to Beninoise side, Dadje FC 2-1 in the second leg of their preliminary round tie on Saturday. The match was played at the General Mathieu Kerekou Stadium in Cotonou.
The win came barely two months after the Benin Republic recorded their first-ever defeat of the Nigerian senior national football team, Super Eagles, in the World Cup qualifying round of matches.
The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Ikenne, their adopted home last weekend.
Dadje FC progressed into the first round 3-2 on aggregate.
The Maiduguri side will play no more part on the continent and will now focus on domestic football which will commence next weekend.
However, it was not all gloom for Nigeria as Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Enugu Rangers progressed to the first round of the CAF Champions League after a 2-1 aggregate win over US Zilimadjou of Comoros.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by US Zilimadjou at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, but progressed 2-1 on aggregate, having won the first leg 1-0 in Comoros a week ago.
Rangers were awarded a penalty when substitute Ekeson Okorie was brought down inside the box in the 79th minute, and Kenechukwu Agu slotted the ball into the back of the net to give Rangers the lead on Friday.
However, US Zilimadjou equalised six minutes later to end the game 1-1.
The Flying Antelopes will now face the winner of the tie between St Louis of Mauritius and Angola’s GDSE in the second preliminary round.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Champions League will later today take on AS FAR of Morocco in the second leg preliminary round tie. The match takes place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat.
The Daniel Ogunmodede tutored side played a 1-1 draw with the Moroccans in the first leg last weekend.
A draw will be enough for the Ikenne club to seal a place in the first round.
AS FAR knocked out Remo Stars in the preliminary round of the competition last season.
Eighteen-Eleven Media