REIGNING Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Plateau United on Tuesday suffered a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the first round, first leg tie of the CAF Champions League game played at the Stade Olympique Sousse.
It was a near miserable day for Plateau United as they conceded three goals within 10 minutes of the first half.
Amr Marei gave the hosts the lead in the first minute after collecting a defence-splitting pass from Al Khaly Bangoura.
Etoile doubled the lead barely a minute later through Amine Chermiti who cashed in on the visitors’ poor defending to slot the ball into the net.
As the Nigerians were still struggling to get their act together, the Tunisians increased the tally in 10th minute through Chermiti, who beat goalkeeper Odah Okeimute with a backheel effort.
On resumption, Etoile made it 4-0 in the 54th minute through Ayman Sfaxi as Plateau United remain disunited.
However, Rapheal Ayagwa gave the Tin City landlords some respite as he converted a spot-kick awarded his side in the 69th minute.
Ibeh Johnson in the 77th minute hit the crossbar, while three minutes later, his attempt went off target.
The Kennedy Boboye-piloted side eventually reduced the deficit to 4-2 through Tosin Omoyele in the 83rd minute.
Etoile nearly made it 5-2 during added time when the visitors’ captain Junior Salomon almost turned the ball into his own net.
With this result, Plateau United need to score at least two unreplied goals in the return leg tie in Jos, to land in the lucrative group stage of the prestigious competition.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s second representatives in the competition, MFM FC of Lagos, will on Wednesday, March 7 host Mouloudia Alger of Algeria at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos. The Olukoya Boys eliminated AS Real Bamako 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg tie in Mali.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Enyimba face Energie FC of Benin Republic in the first round tie billed for the Stade de l’Amitie, Cotonou, while Akwa United will be guests of Al-Ittihad of Libya in Tunisia in the same competition.
