August 27, (THEWILL) – Enyimba International failed to progress to the next round of the CAF Champions League on Sunday, after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Libya’s Al Ahly Benghazi.
The first leg in Benghazi ended 4-3 in favour of the Libyan side, meaning Enyimba lost the tie by that score on aggregate. Playing in front of their home fans in Aba, Enyimba dominated proceedings but were unable to find the back of the net. The hosts created numerous chances, but were repeatedly let down by their lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Al Ahly defended resolutely and relied on counterattacks to threaten. In the end, Enyimba were left to rue their profligacy in front of the goal over the two legs. A 1-0 win on Sunday would have been enough to send the Nigerian champions through on the away goals rule. However, they were unable to capitalise on their superiority and home advantage in the second leg.
The result means Enyimba’s CAF Champions League campaign ends at the preliminary round stage. It was a disappointing early exit for the 2003 and 2004 winners of Africa’s premier club competition. Enyimba will now turn their attention to preparing for the new Nigeria Premier League season.
The exit leaves Nigeria with just one representative in the Champions League – Remo Stars, who are currently facing Ghana’s Medeama SC in their second fixture. Nigerian football fans will be hoping Remo can progress further than they managed this year.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
