AFL: Morocco’s Wydad send Enyimba back to Aba after 3-0 win at home

The defending Nigerian Professional League defending Champions lost the first leg of the African Football League semi-final at home in Aba.

Defending NPFL Champions, Enyimba, have been knocked out of the inaugural African football league by Moroccan side, Wydad Athletic Club, Soccernet.ng reports.

The nine-time NPFL Champions had the chance to put the game to bed in the first-leg, but could only record highlights as they scuffed chances, bagging just a shot on goal in twenty attempts.

A clumsy mistake by Super Eagles goalkeeper and club captain, Olorunleke Ojo, allowed the visitors to get a penalty to secure a rare away win.

Enyimba boss, Finidi George believed his side could turn the fortune around in Casablanca, motivating the Aba Warriors to put up a fight in an encounter where they’re the least favourites.

Four minutes into the game, things got complicated for Finidi’s side as Wydad’s Amoud El Amloud opened the score for the host, doubling the aggregate score. A long ball from midfield found Attiat Allah who headed it into the path of El Amoud to open the scoring for the home side.

In the thirty-eight minute, Enyimba’s exit from the African Football League was confirmed when a free kick from Attiat Allah found Jamal Harkass in the box. The initial effort was parried by Ojo, but Harkass scored on the follow-up.

Wydad scored their third of the half when Yahya Attiat-Allah met a low cross into the box and swung at it into the underside of the cross-bar.

The home side could have scored more goals but were wasteful as time winded down, with their sights set on place in the semi-final of the competition.

Enyimba will return to the drawing board to lick their wounds and recall what they could have done better, with an additional million-dollar reward for reaching the quarter-final of the competition.