Two-time champions Enyimba International Football Club and Remo Star FC both suffered narrow losses in their 2023/2024 CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg matches on Sunday.
Nigerian Champions, Enyimba FC suffered a 4-3 loss to Libyan side, Al Ahli Benghazi, in a highly entraining match at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.
Striker Chijioke Mboama had put the Peoples’ Elephants ahead as early as 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 out Al Ahli Benghazi’s lead to put the score at 3-3. That was before a heart-breaking stoppage time winner for the hosts, which 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 a week’s time when the return leg is played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Medeama Sporting Club 1-0 Remo Stars
Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Champions League, Remo Stars Sports Club, also suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ghanian side, Medeama Sporting Club.
Jonathan Sowah scored in the 22nd minute to secure a narrow 1-0 victory for the Ghanians.
Remo Stars will now be hoping to reverse the slim advantage a week from now in the return leg.
Sunday’s CAF Champions League results
Galaxy FC 2-0 Vipers
Uniao Desportiva 1-0 Green Mamba
AS Djibouti Telecom 0-2 Young Africans
1′ de Agosto 1-0 Vita Club
Otoho 1-1 Al-Merrikh
Asko 0-1 AS FAR
Dragon 0-2 Bullets
Medeama Sporting Club 1-0 Remo Stars
Coton Sport 0-0 Mimosas
Nouadhibou 2-0 Al-Ahli Tripoli
Hafia FC 0-0 Academie Generation Foot
Al-Ahly Benghazi 4-3 Enyimba FC
Salaam FC Bor 0-3 Al-Hilal (Walkover).
