CAF Cup ties: Enyimba sizzle, MFM struggle, Akwa United beaten
It was mixed fortunes yesterday for Nigerian Professional Football League clubs in the CAF club competitions as Enyimba FC and MFM recorded victories but Akwa United lost 0-1 in Libya.
Enyimba who were drawn bye during the preliminary round matches defeated Energie of Benin Republic 2-0 in Cotonou in the first leg of their first round clash.
Former Warri Wolves man, Stanley Dimgba scored Enyimba’s opening goal in the 4th minute of the match before CHAN Eagles star, Austin Oladapo doubled the lead five minutes later.
The former African champions held tightly to the early minutes goals to take a giant step towards the group stage of the Confederation Cup.
However, Nigeria’s other representative in the second tier competition, Akwa United fought hard but fell 0-1 in Tripoli to Al Ittihad when the hosts scored in the 83rd minute to deny them a vital away point.
Back struggled home, MFM to overcome giants MC Alger of Algeria 2-1 at the Agege Township Stadium in Lagos.
Although Chijoke Akuneto gave MFM the lead in the 36th minute from the spot, the visitors fought back to equalise in the 56th minute.
MFM piled up pressure towards the end of the match till Monsuru Bashiru scored the match winner in the 84th minute.
On Tuesday, Plateau United lost 2-4 at Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia with Raphael Ayagwa and Joshua Obaje scoring a goal each for United.
Going by the results posted by the four Nigerian clubs in the continent, only Enyimba have a less difficult assignment in the return leg as MFM, Akwa United and Plateau United can be said to be on a tight rope going into the return fixtures.