2024 President Federation Cup Champions, Elkanemi Warriors, were held 1-1 by visiting Dadje FC of Benin in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round fixture on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Substitute Gimba Ajiji scored a stoppage time equalizer to cancel out Selasie Bakai’s first half opener at the Remo Stars Stadium.
Elkanemi, who just returned to the nigerian top-flight this year, started the game poorly against the Benin side at their adopted homeground in Ikenne.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu opted to start new signings Barnabas Daniel and Clemet Naantuam in attack and Mohammed Aminu in midfield with goalkeeper Abine George keeping his place in goal.
The visitors started the game quite well, keeping possessions and making it difficult for the Warriors to create any meaningful chance.
Just before the half hour mark, the Benin side took the lead in stunning fashion. Elkanemi thought they should have had a penalty only for the referee to wave play on, and from that breakaway, Bakai calmly slotted past the goalkeeper for the game’s first goal.
At the other end, Warriors tried to get going but the likes of Barnabas, Naantuam and Cup hero Nasiru Salihu failed to exhibit the right composure to put the ball past goalkeeper Guillaume Agbegninou. The scoreline remained unchanged at the break.
After the interval, Elkanemi upped the ante but they continued to miss clear-cut chances with Nasiru, who struck the woodwork later on, the major culprit.
Zubairu opted to introduce the likes of Taheer Abubakar, Sulyman Alabi and Ajiji after the hour mark as they kept pushing for the game’s equalizer. In the final minute of the game, Ajiji nodded home a fine cross from Usman Abbas to help his side avoid defeat in Ikenne.
With the result, the Benin side, who have the edge on away goal rule, will host the second leg of this first round fixture next weekend.
