NAN-S-14
Draw
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2017 (NAN) Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Saturday held AS Real Bamako of Mali to a goalless draw in Bamako in their 2017 CAF Champions League pairing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result came about 24 hours after Nigeria’s other representatives, Rangers International, held their Algerian opponents to a 1-1 draw in Algiers.
The first round first leg game played at the Stade Omnisports Modibo Keita saw the Rivers United side holding their own at the end of a very cagey first half.
On resumption of play in the second half, Lukman Mohammed nearly broke the deadlock.
From then on, it was Rivers United all the way with another attempt at goal in the 49th minute as the visitors dictated the pace of the game.
When Real Bamako made a dangerous incursion however, it was goalkeeper Femi Thomas who stopped rampaging Abdramane Traore from a point blank situation.
Asamoah Godbless came in in the 56th minute for Mohammed as coach Stanley Eguma appeared to go all out for an away victory.
Not even the introduction of Idrissa Traore in place of Mohammed Sangary could achieve the desperate result being sort by the hosts as Rivers United’s defence was resolute.
The hosts had another chance at goal in the 73rd minute after Salim Bah sent in a dangerous cross but it was perfectly dealt with by a very impressive Thomas.
Allissou Sanou was stretchered off in the 77th minute but this did not deter Rivers United as substitute Ayobami Asekunowo proved to be a perfect replacement.
He continued from where Sanou stopped, mounting pressure on the hosts who were subsequently forced to introduce Nigerian-born Folarin Temitope in the 79th minute.
Coach Stanley Eguma on his part introduced Benard Ovoke to replace Nzube Anazemba in a tactical substitution.
With few minutes to the end of the match the home fans who were visibly disappointed began to exit the Modibo Keita stadium.
There were four crucial minutes of added time which appeared to be pulsating, but a determined Rivers United side refused to crumble till the last blast of the referee’s whistle.
The result puts the Garden City side in a better position ahead of the return leg in a week’s time.(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)