By: Michael Odetunde
NPFL Champions Enyimba International of Aba in a thrilling encounter lost to Ahly Bengazi 4-3 in the first leg of preniminalry stage of CAF Champions League played on Sunday
It was Enyimba who drew the first blood with an early lead after Chijioke.M put the ball at the back of the nets after goalkeeper had pushed the ball from a shot in just three minutes, but the lead was not last long as the home side restored the parity in the eight minutes from an header after a fine cross from the left wing.
Ahly Bengazi pressurized the Enyimba’s defence as Obot put the ball in his own nets to give the Libyan side the lead in the 42 minutes.
After the restart of the second half, Enyimba levelled the scores a minutes to hour mark from Ekwutoziam also pouncing the ball into the nets after a resulted free-kick.
The home side continue pressing and pressing with their attacking style of play in front of their mammoth and vociferous fans as they marauded Enyimba’s defence to score their third goal in the 75 minutes after Enyimba left their defence unmarked.
Enyimba did not lose guard as they searched to salvage a draw in the thrilling encounter by scoring four minutes to the regulations time from Ndukwu M but could not hold on as Ahly Bengazi restored back their lead near at the death to sealed the slim victory over the NPFL Champions.
Enyimba Head Coach Finidi George will be worried as the second leg come too soon as his team left the defence opened and unorganized with the way, the goals were conceded and it will also be a relief for him after his team scored 3 goals away from home with their impressive performance.
Other NPFL representative Remo Stars also lost away to Medeama SC from Ghana 1-0.
Both teams will be at home as they will be filling out against their opponents next week for the 2nd leg of the preniliminary stage of the competition.
