Nigerian
clubs have over the years and against all odds produced some unlikely away days on
the continent in CAF club competitions. We take a look at some of these
performances and where they rank in the fame of away triumphs.
1. Petro
Atletico 1, Enyimba 2
Luanda,
Caf Champions League, third round, 2nd leg
29
May, 2004
Enyimba
were the defending champions of the Caf Champions League after being the first
Nigerian club to win the title in 2003 whenthey defeated Egyptian side
Ismaily. Okey Emordi’s side faced a difficult task in Luanda after a 1-1 draw with the Angolan side
at home in Aba. However, the Aba
millionaires produced a brilliant away performance. First, striker Emeka Nwanna opened
the scoring in the 11th minute to move Enyimba ahead on aggregate, but the
Angolans drew level in the 70th minute. And with penalty shoot out looming,
David Tyankale scored an 86th minute winner to move Enyimba to the group stages.
2. MK
Etancheite 0, Warri Wolves 1
Kinshasa,
Confederation Cup, third round, 2nd Leg, 2 May, 2015
Very few
persons gave Paul Aigbogun’s side a chance to overcome Mk Etancheite in the
intimidating environment in Kinshasa.
The odds were stack against the Nigerian side after a lender 2-1 win in
the first leg of this third round tie. With a brace from Super Eagles striker
Gbolahan Salami, but the Congolese got an away goal that meant the second leg
will be interesting. But despite the apprehension generated from this tie, after a
obdurate display from Warri Wolves, a break away goal in the 72 minute from Etebo
Oghenekaro ensured a 1-0 victory and a 3-1 aggregate win to move to the next
round. It is their fifth victory in six Confederation cup matches this season.
And it ensured their place in the play-off round for the first time.
3. Arab
Contractors 0, Dolphins 1
Cairo,
Confederations Cup, group stages, 25 September 2005
At the
time the Confederation cup which was in its second edition, there was no room
for semi finals, only the group winners advanced to the finals. The Musa
Abdullahi led Dolphin side had Egyptian giants Ismaily and Arab contractors as
group opponents. With FC 105 of Gabon
the other team in the group. But Dolphins triumphed in Cairo through a first half goal from
Endurance Idahor in their penultimate group match. They eventually lost in the
finals of the competition to AFC Rabat of Morocco, 3-1 on aggregate.
4. Al-Ahly
2, Kano Pillars
2
Cairo,
Champions League, second round, Second Leg, 2 May, 2009
Kano
Pillars were the new kid on the block on the continent, while Al-Ahly had a
fearsome reputation as the best club side in Africa, and the task in Cairo was
made even difficult after Kano Pillars drew 1-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in
Kano, but a side led by Bello Musa Kofarmata and Gambo Mohammed stunned Al-Ahly to
come away with a 2-2 draw that took them to the group stages in their first
appearance on away goals. They got as far as the semi finals where they lost 6-0
on aggregate to fellow Nigerian side, Heartland FC of Owerri.
5. African
Sports 0, Enyimba 3
Abidjan,
Champions League, group stages, 10 July, 2004
Enyimba
had made an indifferent start to the season and a failed experiment with a
foreign manager in Micheal Urukalo, resulted in the appointment of Okey Emordi in June, 2004. The
defending champions showed real intent of their ability to retain the trophy
they won the previous year after attacking midfielder, Onyekachi Okonkwo scored
the first goal, further goals from defender, Obinna Nwaneri and Ndidi Amumnu
in the second half gave Enyimba a commanding opening group stage victory. Although their form was
erratic throughout the group stages, they retained the title beating, Etiole dul
Sahel of Tunisia
on penalties in the second leg of the finals at the Abuja National stadium.
Photo Credit: Google/Wikipedia
