Plateau United Football Club of Jos defeated AS Stade Mandji of Gabon 1-0 in Abuja on Sunday in the second leg match of their first preliminary round fixture in the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League.
The victory meant they advanced to the second preliminary round, after a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Both sides had played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg match of their fixture at the Stade Franceville on September 10.
The second leg match played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium saw Chappy Katoh scoring the only goal for Plateau United in the 64th minute.
Goalscoring chances were few and far between in a very cagey affair as both sides looked solid in defence.
However, it was the hosts who created more chances but were frustrated by goalkeeper Rudd Tsoumbou for the first half to end goalless.
Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side continued to dominate play and were unlucky not to score early in the second half.
The deadlock was, however, broken in the 64th minute when a lovely cross from Ibrahim Mustapha found Katoh who nodded in a powerful header from close range.
The visitors then piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes of the game, but Plateau United were resolute in defence as they held on four victory.
Plateau United will now play in the second preliminary round where they face Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia, hosting the first leg match on October 7.
In another CAF Champions League game also played on Sunday, hosts Watanga FC of Liberia defeated Nigerian champions Rivers United FC 1-0.
But the Port Harcourt-based side still progressed to the second preliminary round on a 3-1 aggregate victory, having won the first leg at home with a commanding 3-0 lead.
They will next take on reigning champions Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in their second preliminary round fixture.
In CAF Confederation Cup matches also played on Sunday, goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka was the hero as Kwara United drew 0-0 with hosts AS Douanes of Niger Republic.
This was in the second leg match of their first round fixture and it was played at the Stade Gen. Senyi Kountche in Niamey.
The result meant Kwara United qualified 3-0 on aggregate to book a second round berth against reigning Confederation Cup champions Renaissance Sportive de Berkane of Morocco.
It was, however, a sad day for hosts, Remo Stars, Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup.
They bowed out of the competition following a 0-1 loss to visiting Moroccan side, AS FAR Rabat.
The first leg in Morroco had ended in a 1-1 draw, but the experienced Moroccan side pulled off a stunning away victory to end the Nigerian side’s campaign.
