Nigerian Teams Eliminated From CAF Competitions

Nigerian Teams Eliminated From CAF Competitions 

It was another sad day for Nigerian club football yesterday, following the elimination of the country’s only surviving team in this year’s CAF assignment, Warri Wolves, by visiting AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville.

Wolves, who suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg three weeks ago in Congo Brazzaville, had vowed to upturn the result against AC Leopards in yesterday’s game. But it turned out to be a mission impossible, even though Wolves came so close. The Nigerian won 3-1, but it was not enough to scale through to the group stage.

It was a painful exit, as Wolves helped the visitor in securing their passage to the group stage by dashing them a vital goal early in the second half, when Super Eagles’ towering defender, Azukuike Egwuekwe, scored an own goal. After a goalless first half, Wolves came into the game probing for goals.

Their effort was rewarded, when Super Eagles striker, Gbolahan Salami, scored the opener. The jubilation that greeted Salami’s goal had not died down, when Egwuekwe scored an own goal to level score at 1-1. Salami later scored his second goal for Wolves to make it 2-1, while Oghenekaro Etebo increased the tally to 3-1, but it was not the scoreline the Nigerians needed to scale through to the group stage of the competition.

With the 4-3 aggregate scoreline, AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville qualified to the group stage of the competition.

It would be recalled that Enyimba of Aba, Kano Pillars and Dolphin of Port Harcourt had all been eliminated from CAF competitions earlier in the year.