Shaky start for Lobi Stars in CAF Champions League

Lobi Stars of Makurdi yesterday began their 2019 CAF Champions League campaign on a shaky note losing the first leg of the preliminary round match 0-1 to UMS de Loum of Cameroon at the Stade Millitaire De Ben Akanoun in Yaounde.

Although Lobi Stars put up a spirited fight, the home team’s quick transition from the backline to attack nearly resulted in an early goal but Lobi’s John Lawrence put up a brilliant save to deny UMS de Loum.

Lobi Stars equally had their fair share of the game but failed to maximally utilise their chances in the first half of the match.

When the second half resumed, UMS’s Namedji Willy became a thorn in the flesh of the wing backs of Lobi Stars, Solomon Kwambe and Ebube Duru.

In the 64th minute, the host broke the deadlock with a solo effort from Jean Adadan which prompted Lobi Stars to increase the tempo in search of the equaliser by introducing Austin Ogunye for Sikiru Alimi and Lively Itodo for David Tyavkase in a bid to get an equaliser which failed to come.

Lobi Stars will seek to get back to winning ways when the return leg is played on Wednesday, December 5 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

However, Nigeria’s representatives in the second tier CAF club competition, Enugu Rangers started their campaign on a winning note as they defeated Defence Forces of Ethiopia 2-0 in Enugu.

Two second half penalties converted by Godwin Aguda gave ‘the flying antelopes’ victory as they head into the return leg in a week’s time.