Kwara United shake off Niger’s voodoo to overcome AS Douanes

Niger herbalists attacked the Harmony Boys before their match on Sunday, but they held their composure to emerge victorious

Kwara United had more than the physical to battle with in Niamey. But the Afonja Warriors maintained their focus and forced a stalemate to power past AS Douanes to the next round of the CAF Confederations Cup on a 3-0 aggregate.

The Ilorin-based club held a healthy 3-0 advantage from the first leg, having outsmarted the Nigeriens in Nigeria last week.

But Douanes and their supporters were not giving up easily, and moments before kick-off, some metaphysical drama took place.

Two Nigerien herbalists attacked Kwara United players with goat blood and sprinkled it on them and the ground they walked on.

But whatever benefits that action was expected to bestow on AS Douanes did not materialise as Kwara United stood firm for ninety minutes and refused to concede a goal.

The Afonja Warriors are, therefore, through to the second qualifying round of the competition.

Remo Stars were not as lucky, though, as they lost 1-0 at home to AS FAR to crash out of the Confederations Cup.

The NPFL side braved the odds to pick an impressive 1-1 draw in Morocco last week. But they faltered when it mattered most, allowing the Moroccans to advance on a 2-1 aggregate.

CAF Champions League results

In the CAF Champions League, Nigeria’s two representatives, Plateau United and Rivers United are through to the next round of the competition.

Plateau United edged to a 1-0 win over AS Mandji in the second leg of their qualifier at the MKO Abiola Stadium to advance on 3-2 aggregate.

Haggai Katoh headed home the winner in the 63rd minute of the encounter.

Plateau held the first leg advantage, having forced a 2-2 draw in Gabon last weekend.

At the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, NPFL champions Rivers United fell to a 1-0 loss to Liberia’s Watanga FC.

But the Port Harcourt-based club progressed to the next round of the premier competition on a 3-1 aggregate win, having defeated the same side 3-0 in Nigeria last week.

Rivers United will next face Champions Wydad Casablanca for a spot in the group stage.