Nigeria’s campaign in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup suffered a double blow on Sunday, as both Kwara United and Abia Warriors were knocked out at the very first hurdle.
At the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Kwara United went into their second-leg tie against Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko with hopes of overturning a 4-3 defeat from the first meeting in Accra. However, those ambitions were dashed when Hubert Gyau struck early in the second half to hand Kotoko a 1-0 victory on the day and a 5-3 aggregate success overall.
The Harmony Boys started brightly, creating the game’s first real chance in the seventh minute before Kotoko responded through midfielder Lord Adabo, who went close with a powerful effort. Kwara’s best moment came midway through the half when Seun Ogunribide’s dangerous corner unsettled Kotoko goalkeeper Camara Mohamed. The ball fell kindly for Aliu Salawudeen, but his follow-up attempt flew wide to the dismay of the home crowd.
Kotoko, who had edged a thrilling seven-goal first leg, proved ruthless when it mattered most. Gyau pounced on a defensive error in the 54th minute, dispossessing a Kwara defender before unleashing a fierce strike that left goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso helpless. Kwara United pushed hard for a way back into the contest, with Bright Babatunde nearly restoring hope when he rounded the goalkeeper in the 67th minute, only for Kotoko’s defenders to recover in time and block his shot on the line.
In Bamako, Abia Warriors faced Djoliba with everything to play for after a 1–
1-1 draw in the first leg in Uyo. But the Nigerian side fell short against the Malian giants, who secured a narrow 1-0 win in the return leg. That result gave Djoliba a 2-1 aggregate passage into the next round, leaving Abia Warriors to rue their missed opportunities at home.
The early exit of both Nigerian clubs marks a disappointing outing for the country in this year’s Confederation Cup, with neither side able to progress past the preliminary round. For Kwara United, the defeat at home was especially painful, given the chances they created and the crowd support behind them. For Abia Warriors, their inability to make their home advantage count in the first leg ultimately cost them dearly.
Asante Kotoko and Djoliba now march into the next stage, while Kwara United and Abia Warriors are left to reflect on what could have been wrong.
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