CAF Champions League: Enyimba Beats Etoile On Penalties, Qualifies For Group Stage
Nigeria Professional Football League (NFPL) champions, Enyimba has qualified for the group stages of the Caf Champions League after beating Etoile du Sahel 4-3 on penalties, at the Stade Olympique de Sousse on Wednesday.
The People’s Elephants came into the tie with a 3-0 advantage, after defeating the Tunisian side in the first League in Aba, however the Etoile levelled the tie 3-3 and erased the visitor’s advantage.
Theophilus Afelokhai was the hero for the Nigerian side as he stopped from penalties to earn Enyimba a 7-6 aggregate win over Faouzi Benzarti’s men in a ferocious atmosphere at the Stade Olympique de Sousse.
Etoile du Sahel broke the deadlock in the 43rd- minute, through a superb free-kick from Lahmar after Dare Ojo was penalised for a foul.
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The host doubled their lead with a fine header from Acosta, who levelled proceedings 19-minutes from time to drag the tie into penalties.
The visitors saw their first two kicks saved, but Afelokhai’s fine form took the two-time champions to the group stage.
Enyimba, who won the competition back to back in 2003 and 2004, is now $400,000 richer following their qualification. They last featured in the group phase of the tournament in 2011.
The Aba giants, will now join ES Setif, AS Vita Club, Al Ahly, Zamalek, ASEC Mimosas, Wydad Casablanca and ZESCO United for the draws on May 26.
