MTN CAF League: Africa Sports Trample Over 'People's Elephants'
Reigning champions Enyimba of Nigeria yesterday lost in Aba to Africa Sports of the Ivory Coast in the Champions League. The win was Africa Sports' first win in Group A of the Champions league and the Nigerians first ever defeat in African competitions on home soil.
The victory however was not enough for Africa Sports, who cannot make it to the semi finals, the best they can do is to draw level with Enyimba on seven points.
Under Champions League rules, the matches between the two sides level on points will be used to separate the sides.
Enyimba's 3-0 win in Abidjan would therefore seem stay ahead of Africa Sports even if the Nigerians did lose their final match in Malawi to Bakili Bullets.
Taofeek Oyasipe netted what turned out to be the winner for Africa Sports in the 37th minute with a clinical shot into the roof of the net after a good break from their own half by the Ivorians.
Africa Sport had the better of play in the first half and were unlucky not to get a penalty on the stroke of half time when midfielder Karamoko Comara seemed to be fouled in the Enyimba box.
The Nigerians came out a much more motivated side after the break as they attacked the Ivorian goal but without any success.
Muri Ogunbiyi missed a glorious chance when he shot over the bar from close range and two minutes later Africa Sport defender Blaise Kouassi was forced to head a free kick off his line.
Africa Sport had a good chance to increase their lead in the 65th minute when Djedjed Landry shot tamely with only goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to beat.
Straight from the resultant goal kick Enyimba's Emeka Nwanna beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper Bernard Kouakou but saw his goal bound shot being intercepted by Cesar Kouassi.
Meanwhile, it was a good weekend for Cameroonian sides in the Confederation Cup with both Cotonsport Garoua and Sable Batie winning at home.
Yesterday two goals in three minutes helped Sable beat Ghana's Hearts of Oak 2-0 while Cotonsport crushed Santos of South Africa 4-0.
Sable's goals came from Serge Emoleu in the 26th minute and then Herman Dzumafo three minutes later.
On Saturday Cotonsport beat Santos with two goals in each half.
Ahmadou Ngomna got them under way with the opener on 18 minutes. Following a foul in the area, Cotonsport had a penalty - which was saved by the Santos goalkeeper - but Ngomna headed in from the resulting corner.
Nigerian Bitrus Minufu then doubled the Cameroonians' lead on 39 minutes, and Allaman Francios D'Koume put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark.
Hamadou Soussia finished things off nine minutes later.
The wins mean that the two Cameroonian sides top the group with Cotonsport leading the way on five points from three games and Sable a point behind them.
The next round of matches are in three weeks time with Cotonsport travelling to play Santos and Sable making the trip to face Hearts of Oak.
|
