Nigeria’s marketing campaign within the CAF Confederation Cup ended abruptly on Sunday as each Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out within the preliminary spherical of the competitors.
On the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Kwara United had been tasked with overturning a slender 4-3 first-leg defeat to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko.
As an alternative, the Concord Boys fell 1-0 at dwelling, sealing their elimination with a 5-3 combination scoreline.
Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni promised a daring attacking strategy, however his workforce struggled to interrupt down Kotoko’s disciplined backline.
The Ghanaian facet defended compactly, absorbed strain, and punished the hosts with swift counterattacks.
The decisive second got here within the 51st minute when Hubert Gyau completed a well-worked transfer, driving dwelling a low shot that silenced the Abeokuta crowd.
From then on, Kotoko dictated the tempo, forcing Kwara into errors and irritating their late rally.
Regardless of making 4 second-half substitutions—introducing Ozor Philip, Shola Abdulraheem, Toheeb Gidado, and Emeka Obiora—the Concord Boys couldn’t discover a breakthrough.
The guests’ continental expertise and defensive resilience proved an excessive amount of to beat.
The loss ends Kwara United’s short-lived continental journey, however the membership will take positives from their spirited efficiency in Ghana, the place they scored three away targets.
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For Asante Kotoko, the reward is a high-profile conflict towards Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca within the subsequent spherical.
Double heartbreak
It was additionally heartbreak for debutants Abia Warriors, who bowed out after a slender defeat to Mali’s Djoliba in Bamako. Following a 1-1 first-leg attract Uyo, the Nigerian facet misplaced 1-0 within the return fixture, going out 2-1 on combination.
