TheCable

Rivers United, Nigeria’s sole representative at the 2020/21 CAF Confederation Cup, on Wednesday, beat South Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in the first leg qualifying round.

The Stanley Eguma boys dominated the host but could not get on the score sheet in the first 45 minutes of play at the Dr. Molemela stadium.

Godwin Aguda, however, broke the deadlock in the 70th minute to put the pride of Rivers ahead.

Ten minutes after, Fortune Omoniwari doubled Rivers lead.

The second leg is expected to take place in a fortnight at the Adokiye Amesiemaka stadium in Port Harcourt.

Al Merreikh thrash Enyimba in CAF Champions League first leg

Enyimba, Nigeria’s representative at the 2020/21 CAF Champions League, were thrashed 3-0 by Al Merreikh in Sudan.

Saifelden Maki’s hat trick dealt the people’s elephant a blow in the first leg qualifying round fixture at the Omdurman on Wednesday afternoon.

Maki got his first goal in the 7th minute of play after dribbling past Bass’s Djeri, Enyimba’s goalkeeper, to tuck home the ball.

The two-time African champions failed to convert opportunities they had despite being a goal down.

The Al Merreikh star player, thereafter, doubled the Sudanese side’s lead in the 44th minute from a counter-attack.

Adebayo Abiodun and Tosin Omoyele came on for Nabil Yarou and Samson Obi in the second half to beef up the Fatai Osho led side.

Al Merreikh, however, kept dictating the pace of the game.

Despite the introduction of Orok Gabriel for Anayo Iwuala in the 83rd minute, Enyimba could not stop the Sudanese side from netting their third goal in the 90th minute.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side now have a huge task to overturn the three-goal deficit in Aba in two weeks time in order to qualify for the next round.