CAF Confederations Cup: Kano Pillars, Rivers United Humbled In Senegal, Equatorial Guinea

The two Nigerian Premier Football League clubs failed to rise to the occasion as they suffered crushing defeats in the first leg of their continental adventure

Kano Pillars fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Senegalese side ASC Diaraf in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup matchup on Saturday. The victorious home side was buoyed by strikes from Joseph Bassene, Mohamed Diallo, and Pape Ndiaye.

Sai Masu Gida, though, boosted their chances of overturning the result in the second leg next weekend after David Ebuka’s away goal handed them a foothold in the tie.

The two teams meet again on December 5 inside the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna where a win with two goals without conceding any will see Kano Pillars advance to the next round of the competition. 

In the other game involving a Nigerian side, Equatorial Guinea’s Futuro Kings secured a thrilling 2-1 win at home to Rivers United.

Gael Nkama’s brace on either side of the break powered the hosts towards victory, but Godwin Aguda’s 88th-minute penalty goal handed a valuable lifeline to the visiting NPFL side.

Rivers United will feel confident of securing a convincing win in Port Harcourt when both sides face off again in the return fixture next weekend.

Results of CAF Confederations Games played across the continent:

Musongati 2-2 Green Eagles

AS Arta 0-1 Arab Contractors

Etoile du Congo 1-1 Bravos do Marquis

Futuro Kings 2-1 Rivers United

Al Ittihad Tripoli 4-1 Horseed

Namungo 3-0 Al Rabita

AS Kaloum Star 1-1 Tevragh Zeina

GAMTEL 0-1 TAS Casablanca

ASC Diaraf 3-1 Kano Pillars