Lobi Stars Dump Gor On Away Goals, Kotoko Break Fighting Sharks

22nd December 2018 - by SPN Correspondent

SPL champions fall to a 0-2 defeat in Enugu, Ghanian giants edge debutants 2-1 in Kumasi to end their CAF Confederations Cup dream

Samuel Onyango (second right) is congratulated by teammates after scoring for SPL champions Gor Mahia FC against Lobi Stars FC of Nigeria during their CAF Champions League first round opening fixture at the MISC, Kasarani on December 16, 2017. Gor won 3-1. PHOTO/Gor Mahia FC

SUMMARY

The two-legged first round clash ended 3-3 on aggregate but the home side progressed on the away goal rule after K'Ogalo failed to hold on to their 3-1 first leg advantage from Nairobi
Defeat demotes Gor to the group stage play-offs of the CAF Confederations Cup and will wait until the draw next Friday to find out who their opponents will be
It took a penalty to end the journey for Sharks in Kumasi at the Baba Yara Stadium where all the goals came in a fast-paced first half

ENUGU, Nigeria- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC bowed out of the CAF Champions League on Saturday after losing 0-2 to Lobi Stars FC in Enugu, Nigeria.

Later in the evening, Kariobangi Sharks FC's maiden foray in the CAF Confederations Cup ended in a dispiriting 1-2 loss to Ghanaian titans Asante Kotoko that saw the home side progress to the group stages of the second tier tournament by the same score on aggregate.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Gor suffered Champions League first round heartache for the second season running when the two-legged first round clash ended 3-3 on aggregate but the home side progressed on the away goal rule after K'Ogalo failed to hold on to their 3-1 first leg advantage from Nairobi.

Sikiru Alimi notched a second half brace to condemn Gor to yet another Champions League heartache at the same stage of the elite competition as last season when holders Esperance de Tunis edged them out 1-1 after two fiercely competed fixtures.

First defeat

Defeat demotes Gor to the group stage play-offs of the CAF Confederations Cup and will wait until the draw next Friday to find out who their opponents will be.

The result was the first defeat for Cypriot head coach, Hassan Oktay who succeeded Briton Dylan Kerr at the K'Ogalo hot-seat.

Last term, Gor edged SuperSport United FC of South Africa in the Confed Cup play-off to become the first side from Kenya to qualify to the group stages of the competition since it was re-formatted by CAF.

Playing in Group D, the SPL champions missed out on the quarterfinals by only a point after trailing Algerian heavyweights, USM Alger (11) and Rwandese outfit Rayon Sport (nine) in the final group standings following their 1-2 loss in Algiers in the last round of fixtures.

It took a penalty to end the journey for Sharks in Kumasi at the Baba Yara Stadium where all the goals came in a fast-paced first half.

Fatawu Safiwu put the former African champions ahead in the 17th minute with a finish inside the box before Harambee Stars international levelled the match and put Sharks ahead on away goals when he let rip the equaliser from range on the half hour.

Amos Frimpong restored Kotoko’s advantage when he buried his spot kick past Brian Bwire 10 minutes later to settle what has been a hard-fought contest.