CAFCL: Lobi Stars humbled by ASEC Mimosa in Abidjan

Lobi Stars of Makurdi lost by a lone goal to Asec Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire in Saturday’s CAF Champions league second Group A game played at the Houphouet Boigney Stadium in Abidjan. The win saw Asec Mimosas leveled on points with the Nigerian champions with three points from two matches but remained in third position due to inferior goal difference having suffered 5-2 in the opening game away to Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca. The 1998 CAF Champions league winners took the lead in the 38th minute through penalty kick score by Ahmed Diomande and it happened to be the only goal of the game. The Solomon Ogbeide tutored side which was the services of key players like Sikiru Alimi, Samad Kadiri, John Lawrence and Anthony Agbaji fought hard to score an equalised but all their failed to materialised as they struggle to create clear cut chances. A total number of seven players were yellow carded by the Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal with three going to the Lobi’s trio of Monsuru Bashiru, Chidiebube Duru and Kwambe Solomon while the remaining four card picked by Asec Mimosas players. The Makurdi-based side will now face Wydad in a crucial double-header meetings next month. In other Group A match, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa failed take advantage of Lobi’s loss in Abidjan as they were forced to a 1-1 draw at home to group leaders Wydad Casablanca to remaining bottom of the group with a point .