ENYIMBA qualified for the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup after they defeated Senegalese club Diambars 3-0 at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Sunday but it was a sad tale for Rivers United, who were sent crashing out from the CAF Champions League after a 1-0 defeat to Sudanese giants Al Hilal in Egypt.
Enyimba’s victory meant they advanced 4-0 on aggregate after claiming a 1-0 victory away in Senegal a week earlier.
Enyimba went ahead in the first minute courtesy of a Tosin Omoyele strike.
After missing many chances, the People’s Elephant scored their second goal in the 31st minute played through Victor Mbaoma.
Omoyele then missed a close chance to score a brace and put Enyimba ahead in the 39th minute, tapping wide from Gabriel Orok’s cross.
Both sides went into half-time with Enyimba firmly in control.
The People’s Elephants continued where they stopped in the first half, asking their opponents questions but failing to find the back of the net.
With the game looking to end 2-0, Samuel Kalu, who came on for Sadiq Abubakar in the 74th minute, scored in the last minute of regulation time to give the home side a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Enyimba — the only Nigerian side left in the competition — will know their playoffs opponents on Tuesday when the draw takes place in Cairo, Egypt.
Nigeria’s other representatives, Bayelsa United, were dumped out on Saturday after they lost 4-0 to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, and bowed out 4-1 on aggregate.
Rivers United crashed out after suffering a 1-0 loss in their first-round second-leg encounter at the New Suez Stadium in Egypt.
The win sees Al Hilal qualify for the money-spinning stage of the CAF Champions League 2-1 on aggregate, while Rivers United drop to the CAF Confederation Cup.
Rivers United head coach, Stanley Eguma, made three changes to the side that started their first-leg draw.
Ebube Duru returned to the starting lineup, while goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokai and midfielder Morice Chukwu were recalled for the encounter.
However, Joseph Onoja missed out on the – squad due to a knock suffered in training.
But it was not enough as Yasser Mazmel scored the only goal in the fourth minute, after the visitor’s defence was caught off guard, with the striker slotting beyond the Nigerian goalkeeper.
The first leg of the encounter ended 1-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, after the Nigerians missed several begging chances. They now join Enyimba in the playoff round, with the winners of the double-legged match reaching the group stage of the competition.
Rivers United crashed out in the first round of the CAF Champions League last season, and failed to reach the group stage of the Confederation after being paired with Enyimba.
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