7th April, 2013
It was a different experience for two Nigerian club sides competing in the CAF Champions league.
While Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers beat Vital’O of Burundi 2-0 on Sunday to advance to the CAF Champions League second round, Kano Pillars claimed poor officiating robbed them from advancing when the referee awarded a dubious penalty in stoppage time, in favour of AC Leopard of Congo.
For Rangers, the first leg match in Burundi ended goalless for Rangers to progress to the second round of the competition 2-0 on aggregate.
The home team bossed the game but both sides missed several clear-cut chances in front of an 8,000-strong crowd at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
Uche Oguchi opened scoring for the home team after only three minutes from the penalty spot after Seun Taro was brought down inside the box.
‘The Flying Antelopes’ doubled their advantage through a thunderbolt delivered by Efe Yarhere on 16 minutes.
Rangers could have increased their lead in the 72nd minute, but Sanusi Sani’s effort crashed against the crossbar and nine minutes later, substitute Alhaji Gero failed to get on the scoreboard when he was one-on-one with the Vital’O goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper Godwin Ayalogu ensured he kept a clean sheet when he saved a penalty in stoppage time after Yarhere pulled a Vital’O player down inside the vital area.
Kano Pillars blamed biased officiating after they crashed out of the CAF Champions League on away goals rule at AC Leopard of Congo.
The Nigeria champions lost 3-0 on Sunday to AC Leopard for this first round tie to be tied 4-4 on aggregate, but the Congolese sneaked through having scored a goal in Kano in the first match.
The round defining-goal was from the penalty spot in stoppage time in Brazzaville on Sunday. Pillars’ spokesman. Idris Malikawa said the Ivorian referee robbed his team of qualification to the next round of the competition.
“This is daylight robbery. African football is doomed with such refereeing,” blasted Malikawa. “It’s just unbelievable and if this is how African football is, then we are all doomed.” Malikawa claimed the referee struck out a 75th minute penalty he initially awarded the Nigeria champions.
“There were no complaints in the first half, but after the interval the referee became something else,” he claimed.
MTNFootball reports that the hosts went ahead in the 32nd minute before rallied round to deliver two more goals after the interval and book a place in the second round of the Champions League.
Nigeria’s Confederation Cup campaigners Lobi Stars have also filed a letter of complaint to the CAF over the alleged poor officiating in their 7-1 loss to Liga Muculmana in the second leg Round of 32 game played in Maputo on Friday.
The Markudi-based team are claiming they were undone by the questionable calls by the match officials and have thus registered their displeasure with the continent’s football ruling body.
“Lobi Stars have filed a letter of complaint to CAF over poor officiating by Nunkoo Parmanand (Centre Referee), Roosaye Artar, Swamber Vinert all from Mauritius and Match Commissioner, Hurbung Phar from Malawi,” a close source at the Lobi’s camp said.
The source pointed out that Referee Nunkoo Parmanand made calls that virtually stopped Lobi from playing after Chimaobi opened scores.
Lobi Stars received a massive 7 yellow cards and a red as they were unable to protect the 3-1 advantage they had secured two weeks earlier at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi