All three Nigeria Professional Football Club (NPFL) in continental action on Sunday enjoyed slim victories on the day but only two progressed.
League champions Plateau United beat Etoile du Sahel 1-0 in Kano but was not sufficient as the Tunisians progress 4-3 on aggregate after their emphatic first leg win. Tosin Omoyele scored the second leg’s only goal in the 25th minute but Kennedy Boboye’s men could not add to the tally.
United will now join MFM FC who were annihilated at MC Alger on Saturday in the Confederation Cup final elimination round along with Nigeria’s two other representatives who negotiated their way past their opponents on Sunday.
Enyimba had the easiest of tasks for the Nigerian clubs and they assured all with a 3-2 win over Benin Republic side Energie FC to progress 5-2 on aggregate.
Striker Abdulrahman Bashir opened scores for Enyimba after just 44 seconds and it took the visitors one hour to reply through Jules Elegbede’s deflection. Chinonso Okonkwo then restored Enyimba’s lead in the 68th minute before Paul Odjouhassi equalised for Energie with a sublime free kick late in the game.
Okonkwo however provided the final act in the game when he dusted himself up to convert from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
In nearby Uyo, Akwa United were made to work extra hard by an obstinate Al-Ittihad side who took a 1-0 advantage to the Nest of Champions for the second leg game. Youngster Aniekeme Asuquo scored early in the second half for United to cancel out Ittihad’s first leg advantage.
The tie was however decided on penalties and goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke made two saves as Etim Mathew, Cyril Olisema and Kelly Kester converted to send the Promise Keepers to the final elimination round.
The draws for the play off round of the Confederation Cup which now has all of Nigeria’s four continental representatives will be held on Wednesday March 21, 2018 in Cairo.
