Lobi Stars’ hopes of progressing into the knockout round of the CAF Champions League suffered a huge setback following a 1-0 home defeat to Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Saturday, reports Completesports.com.
It was the Makurdi club’s second defeat in Group A after they went down by the same scoreline against Asec Mimosas of Cote d’lvoire on matchday-two.
Mohamed Nahiri netted the winning goal from the spot in the 20th minute blasting past Olufemi Kayode in goal for Lobi Stars.
Also Read: NPFL Matchday-6: Enyimba, Rivers United Set For War In Aba; Akwa Target First Win
Kayode however saved another penalty in the 63rd minute, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser despite piling pressure on the opposition’s defence in the closing stages of the game.
Former Super Eagles forward Babatunde Micheal started the game for Wydad Casablanca and was replaced by Amin Tighazoui 13 minutes from time.
Wydad Casablanca now occupy top spot in the group with six points from three games, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who defeated Asec 3-1 on Friday sit in second position with the same number of point but with an inferior goal difference.
Lobi Stars are third on the log with three points, with just one win from three group fixtures.
The Solomon Ogbeide’s men will face Wydad Casablanca in the reverse fixture on February 12 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
By Adeboye Amosu
11 Comments
Same old story. Nigerian clubsides today are not a true representation of Nigeria’s profile and strength in the game, unlike the BCC Lions of Gboko of old or Ranchers Bees of Kaduna or Abiola Babes of Lagos or even Enyimba of Aba of 2004. Nigerian clubsides today soil the profile of the country in Africa. They should stop going for CAF Club competitions abeg. Mid way through the competition, the top players keep jetting out for trials in Finland, Cyprus, India, Vietnam and Indonesia, thereby depleting the quality of the team. We are ok with the Super Eagles abeg.
True all these is happening as a result of poor structure if changes are not made we will continue like this!
I knew these fools were gonna loose today.
Someone was telling me home advantage yesterday..
Lol..
That they have the upper hand smh
Lower hand ni..
Shay na NPFL match you call am ni
I mentioned home advantage, that it could help them, I did not say “home will help them win or give them the upper hand” go and read my comment again.
After two matches all the three teams were level on points.
After three matches today two are on six points And two are on three. That means that the 4 teams CAN finish on level points (6 points for all four teams) if Lobi win their last match
Mathematics lmao
But Jensen Josh, u funny die.
Which one is upper hand ko, lower hand ni…. Ha ha ha
It was actually a close game and Wydad won courtesy of a penalty (they didn’t show a second penalty given against them. Game could’ve gone either way
https://twitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1091720054494892032?s=19
I am sad but not surprised. In fact, I would have been surprised if Lobi had won. With the state of our league (and economy), what do you expect?
This is the single crucial fact.
All other teams have been playing regular football since August when the season started. That’s 7 months to blend their teams.
Ours have been inactive from May 2018 right up to January, most NPFL teams recruited up to 10 or 13 new players in December and have only played 4 matches together, so the teams are not yet settled.
Truth is with three games played and one game won they have over-achieved self.
Add also the fact that they are unable to play continental games at Makurdi because the airport there cannot take flights (it’s primarily a military airport) so they go by road to Enugu to play, also after the first match their Captain left and went to sign for a team in Vietnam, other players have left also.
Only yesterday am Enugu Rangers player signed a six month $150,000 contact and will not be available for tomorrow’s match.
If these clubs were run professionally and pay players wages in time, they will not have the problem of players contacts being broken and them able to leave mid tournament.
Nigerian local football is a shambles, hopefully, with it started again a month ago, we will take another step towards a “Professional league”
You have said it all, BigD. So until the NFF and our government play their part off field, we should not expect too much from the boys on the field of play.
This Lobi stars are not contenders..
A Certain Kano pillars,Eyimba or Rangers would pull surprises
I don’t see Lobi stars them going far that’s the fact.