Nigeria representative in this year CAF Champions League Plateau United left it a little bit to late as they rally from four goals down to lose 4-2 against Tunisian giants Etoile Du Sahel in the preliminary round tie.
The Nigerian champions started the game on a wrong footing conceding twice in the opening two minutes of the game with the duo of Amr Marei and Amine Chermiti scoring for the host.
Chermiti added a second in the 7th minute to put the Tunisians three goals clear. His goal resorted to coach Kennedy Boboye replacing goalkeeper Okiemute Odah with Dele Ajiboye.
Ajiboye helped the Nigerians keep the score line at 3-0 heading into the half time break but ten minutes after the restart, Ayman Sfaxi made it 4-0 against the Nigerians tapping home a rebound from what looked like an offside position.
That goal galvanised the Nigerian side with the lively Tosin Omoyele leading Plateau United charge to reduce the deficit, which they ended up doing in the 70th minute when Raphael Ayagwa scored from the spot after Omoyele was brought down in the box.
Three minutes from full time, Omoyele got the goal his performance deserve with a goal to bring scores to 4-2 , minutes after Ibeh Johnson twice came close to scoring with one of his efforts coming off the cross bar.
The 2-4 loss means the Nigerians will need at least two goals in the reverse tie in Jos in a fortnight for a place in the group stages of the money spinning CAF number club competition.
Shedrack Obi
