Remo Stars vs Medeama SC
Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba have suffered early elimination from the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League after playing a goalless draw against Ahli Benghazi from Libya in Aba on Sunday.
The Peoples’ Elephants had earlier suffered a 4-3 defeat in the first leg played last weekend in Benghazi and required any kind of a win in the normal time to secure passage to the next round.
However, things did not turn out as expected for the two-time winners of Africa’s most coveted club trophy as they labored through the match and failed to break their visitors.
George Finidi’s boys were no doubt the better side of the match with their total dominance but were left to rue their missed opportunities that came begging from the likes of new signing Joseph Atule and old dog Chijioke Mbaoma.
REMO STARS CRASH OUT ON PENALTIES
The 2022/2023 NPFL runners-up Remo Stars of Ikenne, has also crashed out of the CAF Champions League after losing out on penalties against Medeama SC from Ghana in Ikenne on Sunday.
Remo Stars in Action
The Skyblue stars had earlier suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg played last weekend in Ghana, and required a 2-goal win without response, in normal time to secure passage to the next round.
However, things did not turn out as expected for the newcomers of Africa’s most coveted club trophy as they labored through the match, breaching their visitors’ defensive setup just once with a 73rd min own goal.
Daniel Ogunmodede’s boys were no doubt the better side of the match with their total dominance but were left to rue the missed opportunities that came begging from the forwards in both legs.
Remo Stars Players Ahead of the Spot kick shootout
The game ended in favour of the home side after 90 minutes but, it was 1-1 on aggregate resulting in a penalty shootout. Both keepers made a couple of saves with the penalty kicks woeful for a Continental showpiece, but it was the Ghanian side that had the day winning 3-2.
Penalty Save by Bankole (Remo Stars GK)
WHAT IT MEANS FOR BOTH TEAMS
The reigning NPFL winners and runners-up will not have a second chance to try out in the CAF Confederations Cup following a change in the tournament’s rules.
Following their early elimination, Enyimba will shift their focus to the domestic league as they will need to successfully defend the title to stand a chance of playing in the CAF Champions League again.
Remo Stars would also shift their attention to the domestic league and hope to go a step further by lifting the title for the first time in their short period of existence. Which in return guarantees them a place back among the big boys on the continent.
