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CAF Confederation Cup

NIGERIA’S BOLAJI SAKIN AIDS HOROYA TO OUST ENYIMBA FROM CONFEDERATION CUP

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Nigerian born Bolaji Sakin and Boubacar Samassekou were on target as Horoya beat Nigerian outfit Enyimba 2-0 at the Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry on Sunday to progress to the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Bolaji Sakin, serial goal scorer for Horoya

And so, like Enugu Rangers, like Shooting Stars and the defunct Water Corporation of Ibadan, Nigerian clubs have failed to get results of the two top clubs of Guinea in Conakry – Hafia and Horoya.

For Enyimba, the first leg played in Aba last weekend ended 1-1 and the Guineans finished off the work at home with a comfortable win that earns them a date against Egyptian debutants Pyramids in the last four.

The goal brought the tie to life as far as attack was concerned, the two West African sides having battled for possession in the middle of the pack with little action in the final third.

 

The only other chance before the goal was another Sakin shot from range which went inches over.

The game gained some life after the goal with the home side being the more industrious upfront. Morlaye Sylla forced the Enyimba keeper to a brilliant save in the 38th minute when he drove in a thunderbolt from distance after dribbling through.

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Sylla had another chance just two minutes this later, this time his bouncing header off a corner flying into the keeper’s arms.

Enyimba were forced into a tactical switch with three minutes left in the second half, Andrew Abalogu being thrown into the fray in place of Igho James.

The attacking change was meant to give Enyimba attacking impetus as they chose to go all out for an equalizer.

But, it was Horoya who created the better chances and on the hour mark, they should have gone two up, but Boniface Haba struck the ball high over the bar from close range after being beautifully teed up by Atta Agyei.

Six minutes later, Horoya were knocking on the door again, this time Agyei striking another blinder of a shot from range which came cracking under the bar.

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The home side kept pushing and the Nigerian side was totally overwhelmed as they couldn’t even knit an effort at goal.

Nigerian forward Sakin broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a sublime goal, curling the ball to the far post from the edge of the area after the Enyimba defense half halfheartedly cleared away a corner.

All their hopes were dashed seven minutes to time when defender Samassekou thumped in a header past the keeper after running to the edge of the six yard box to meet a corner curled in by Sylla.

With victory in sight and Enyimba looking far from a side capable of turning over the tie in seven minutes, Horoya carefully guarded the lead with Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Aristide Bance being introduced to run down the remaining minutes.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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CAF Confederation Cup

Enyimba drawn against Etoile de Filante in Confederation Cup

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Nigeria’s sole survivors in the CAF Confederation Cup,Enyimba will face Burkina Faso sides, Etoile de Filante in the second round of the competition.

 Enyimba drew bye in the preliminary round while the Burkina Faso team reached the second round after eliminating Hafia of Guinea.

Enyimba, second runners-up in the Nigerian League will be attempting to win the Confederation Cup for the first time for Nigeria as they did in the Champions League 21 years ago.

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CAF Confederation Cup

Again, Benin overcomes Nigeria as El Kanemi crashes out of Confederation Cup

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Just two months after Benin Republic recorded their first ever defeat of the Nigerian national football team, Super Eagles, a Benin club, Dadje has knocked out one of  Nigeria’s representatives from the CAF Confederation Cup – El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

Dadje won 2-1 to get a 3-2 aggregate win after the first leg played last week ended 1-1.

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CAF Confederation Cup

Benin Republic offers 8,000 free tickets to boost support for Dadje FC over El Kanemi

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One of Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors have a mountain to climb as they face Dadje FC this evening at the General Mathieu Kerekou Stadium in Cotonou.

Their hosts, Dadje FC carry a slight advantage into the match after obtaining a 1-1 draw last weekend in Ikenne.

A goalless draw is enough for them to sail into the second round. But not leaving anything to chances,massive home support is being planned for them as the Benin FA offered 8,000 free tickets to fans. 

 Dadjè FC, the Benin league runners-up escaped with a precious 1-1 draw against the El Kanemi Warriors of Nigeria.

Thanks to added time, it would have been a different story for El Kanemi who only achieved parity in the sixth minute of added time.

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They had conceded a goal earlier when  Salassi Bless put the Beninese ahead. El Kanemi will have to score and win this evening if they are to join Enyimba in the second round.

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