Humiliation for Nigerian and South African clubs
JOHANESBURG, April 6, (AFP): A disastrous weekend for Nigerian and South African clubs in the CAF Champions League ended with all four representatives eliminated at the last-32 stage.
Nigerians Kano Pillars fell to Moroccans Moghreb Tetouan despite a 21 second-leg victory through a late Rabiu Ali goal.
Tetouan took a four-goal advantage into the return match and Mouhcine Iajour was the star of the tie, scoring a hat-trick in Morocco and another goal in Nigeria.
Two-time champions Enyimba clung to a one-goal first-leg lead against Egyptians Smouha in Mediterranean port Alexandria until five minutes from time.
But relentless pressure on a Nigerian outfit reduced to 10 men by the red-carding of Kingsley Sokari eventually told and they conceded two late goals.
Hani Al-Egeizi converted a penalty and Hermann Kouao snatched the tieclinching second goal in the final minute for the Champions League newcomers.
Early exits are becoming uncomfortably common for both clubs with Pillars making a preliminary-round departure last year and Enyimba joining them on the 2014 scrapheap after the last-32 stage.
South Africans Mamelodi Sundowns were also unable to defend a one-goal advantage on foreign soil, as they crumbled 3-1 at Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe.
Goals from Zambian Rainford Kalaba, Tanzanian Mbwana Samata and Ivorian Roger Assale gave Mazembe control just before the hour mark in Lubumbashi.
And the nationalities of the scorers illustrated the multi-country make-up of a Congolese side bankrolled by mining magnate Moise Katumbi.
Substitute Percy Tau scored six minutes from time for Sundowns, another club led by a mining billionaire.
Emerging Nigerian star Ighodaro Osaguona bagged a brace to earn Moroccans Raja Casablanca a 2-0 home win over Soweto outfit Kaizer Chiefs.
Ghanaians Asante Kotoko disappointed for the second successive season, losing 2-1 at home to Algerians El-Eulma after forcing a goalless first-leg draw.
Having struggled to fund the trip to Congo Brazzaville, Kenyans Gor Mahia bowed out after a second 1-0 loss to AC Leopards with Cesaire Gandze scoring in both legs.
Meanwhile, Swaziland police football team Royal Leopard continued a CAF Confederation Cup giant-killing run by eliminating Angolans Petro Atletico at the weekend.
The part-timers had already stunned South Africans Wits in the preliminary round of the second-tier African club competition.
But they appeared to have met their match when Petro forced a 2-2 round-of32, first leg draw in the tiny southern Africa kingdom.
Realistically, Leopard had to win the second leg in Luanda to survive and that is what they did through the only goal of the game by Mthunzi Mkhontfo on 54 minutes.
The next opponents for the Swazi crime fighters will be one of the Confederation Cup title favourites V
He added: “We’ll be sending out a strong team with Storari in goal.”
Juventus were stunned by a Mohamed Salah brace of goals in the first leg in Turin last month.
Allegri admits he has been impressed by the Egyptian, but is hoping the Bianconeri keep their focus and score the goals that would guarantee a first Italian Cup final in three years.
“Salah is a good player, Fiorentina did well in bringing him to the club,” said Allegri.
“It won’t be easy to turn things around, but we’ll go to Florence and try. To go through we need to win by two clear goals so we will have to play things intelligently and keep our focus.”
Holders Napoli host Lazio in the other semi-final on Wednesday. Their first leg finished 1-1 in Roma. Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
V Club were surprise CAF Champions League finalists last year, drawing twice with Algerians Entente Setif only to fail on the away-goal rule.
A Jacob Mupenta goal on 77 minutes condemned the Congolese to a 1-0 away loss at Mozambicans Ferroviario Beira, but they advanced 3-1 on aggregate.
Nine-title Zamalek, the second most successful CAF club behind fellow Egyptians Al-Ahly, cruised into the round-of-16 by overwhelming Rwandans Rayon Sports 3-0 in Kigali.
Zamalek, known as the White Knights, had a two-goal advantage from the first leg and the 6-1 overall victory margin was the biggest among the 15 ties.
Skipper Ahmed Eid raised his CAF goal tally this season to three with a superb first-half strike in Rwanda and Ali Gabr and Ibrahim Salah scored after the break.