Nigerian champions Plateau United defeated Cameroon’s Eding Sport 3-0 in their CAF Champions League match in Jos on Sunday while the country’s other representatives in the competition MFM drew 1-1 with Real Bamako in Mali.
However, Aiteo Cup champions Akwa United slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat by Banjul Hawks in their CAF Confederation Cup game in Uyo on Sunday.
Plateau dominated the match as the Cameroonian champions struggled to find their rhythm. The Nigerians went ahead in the 19th minute through captain Golbe Elijah. The visitors fought for an equaliser but the first half ended in favour of the hosts
Eding Sport missed a few chances at grabbing the equaliser but Sunday Ingbede increased the tally for Plateau in the 87th minute when he converted from the spot after one of the visitors’ defenders was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.
Joshua Obaje scored the third goal in the 90th minute to give the Jos club a handsome advantage ahead of the second leg in Cameroon.
Nojeem Akinyemi fired MFM into the lead in the 15th minute after receiving a pass from Stanley Okorom.
The Lagos club’s lead lasted only two minutes before Miakib Giscard equalised for the hosts. The forward headed home from a cross. The Malians searched for a winner but the MFM defence contained their threats to leave the tie balanced ahead of the second leg at the Agege Stadium.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Muhammed Jallow and Lamin Charity scored for Banjul Hawks before Victor Mbaoma reduced the score.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the teams played on a wet turf following a heavy rain before kick-off at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
The Promise Keepers relentlessly raided the visitors’ area, restricting them in their own half but missed several scoring chances before the visitors stunned the home fans by scoring first.
The visitors, whose goalkeeper, Yankubu Calley, thwarted every move by the homers, recorded their first goal through Jallow in their first attempt at Akwa’s goal area in the 11th minute.
Although the first goal was against the run of play Charity, also beat Akwa goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke with a powerful shot in the 35th minute to score the Gambians’ second goal.
