Nigerian clubs crash out of Confederation Cup as Kwara United lose 5-3 on aggregate to Asante Kotoko and Abia Warriors fall 2-1 to Djoliba, ending Nigeria’s campaign early.
Nigerian hopes in the CAF Confederation Cup came to an abrupt end after Kwara United and Abia Warriors both suffered defeats in their second-leg fixtures, bowing out of the competition earlier than expected.
At the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Kwara United’s bid to overturn a 4-3 first-leg loss to Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko ended in disappointment. The Harmony Boys fell 1-0 on the night, sealing a 5-3 aggregate defeat.
The decisive moment came in the 54th minute, when Hubert Gyau capitalized on a defensive lapse, dispossessed a Kwara defender, and unleashed a powerful volley past goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso.
Kwara had earlier created chances to level the tie. Aliu Salawudeen squandered a golden opportunity midway through the first half after Kotoko’s goalkeeper, Camara Mohamed, spilled a corner, but his effort sailed over the bar. Later, Bright Babatunde came close in the 67th minute, rounding the goalkeeper only to see his shot cleared off the line by Kotoko’s recovering defenders.
In Bamako, Abia Warriors also fell short against Malian giants Djoliba. After holding the West Africans to a 1-1 draw in Uyo, the Warriors were undone in the return leg, losing 1-0 in a tense encounter. The result handed Djoliba a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place in the next round.
With both Kwara United and Abia Warriors eliminated, Nigerian interest in the Confederation Cup has ended prematurely, leaving fans disappointed and raising questions about the competitiveness of Nigerian clubs on the continental stage.
