Historic MFM rolls past Real Bamako
In only their first continental match at the renovated Agege Stadium in Lagos, Mountain of Fire & Miracles (MFM) beat AS Real Bamako of Mali 1-0 in their prelimnary round second leg on Wednesday.
Midfielder Akuneto Chijioke scored the solitary goal five minute to the end of the keenly contested encounter to secure MFM’s passage to the next round 2-1 aggregate, following their first leg 1-1draw at the Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako.
But at the Soccer Temple as the Agege Stadium is known, there were few chances despite the hosts dominance in the first stanza. Okorom Stanley nearly put them in front in the 39th minute but his long range shot from outside the box after receiving a pass from Akuneto Chijioke missed target. A minute from recess, Ayinde Abiodun saw his lively shot in front of the visitors’ box narrowly off the mark.
However, the introduction of 17-year-old midfielder Abayomi Lawal as a replacement for Ayinde in the 55th minute added bite to MFM’s attacking line as the youngster turned eyes with some superb displays; and he would later deliver a perfect cross for Akuneto to nod in the match winner.
“I want to say a big thanks to our fans and Nigerians at large; this goal means a lot to me and I am very happy because this is my first continental goal and I hope to score more,” a delighted Akuneto said afterwards.
“We knew so many people were expecting great performance from the team and we are going to try our best to get to the group stage first and then see what will happen.”
Similarly, Godwin Enakhena, an official of MFM was equally elated about the club’s historic performance.
“We are happy this was the first continental cup match in Lagos in over a decade and the first CAF Champions League match at the Agege Stadium. This is the fruits of our labour, we started out to give opportunities to youths in other to use their God-given talents to earn a living; MFM FC has brought top flight football to the good people of Lagos and we want to use this opportunity to thank Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode who ensured that the Agege Satdium was up graded to meet CAF’s requirement.”
Meanwhile, MFM will face MC Alger of Algeria at the next round. The Algerians overcame AS Otoho of Congo 9-2 on aggregate.
Results
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Williamsville AC (Cote d’Ivoire) 1-0 Stade Malien (Mali) (1-1)
Olympic de Bangui (Central African Republic) 0-0 ES Setif (Algeria) (0-6)
El Hilal (Sudan) 3-0 LISCR (Liberia) (0-1)
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
KCCA (Uganda) 1-0 CNaPs Sport (Madagascar) (1-2)
Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) 1-3 Bantu (Lesotho) (4-2)
Aduana (Ghana) 2-0 El Tahadi (Libya) (0-1)
Mounana (Gabon) 2-0 RC Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) (0-1)
MFM (Nigeria) 1-0 AS Real (Mali) (1-1)
MC Alger (Algeria) 9-0 AS Otoho (Congo) (0-2)
Horoya (Guinea) 0-0 AS FAN (Niger) (3-1)
Makkassa (Egypt) 0-0 Generation Foot (Senegal) (0-2)
Saint Louis (Seychelles) 1-1 Young Africans (Tanzania) (0-1)
El Merreikh (Sudan) 2-1 Township Rollers (Botswana) (0-3)
Leones Vegatarianos (Equatorial Guinea) 1-1 Gor Mahia (Kenya) (0-2)
Esperance (Tunisia) 5-0 Concorde (Mauritania) (1-1)
Eding Sport (Cameroon) 0-1 Plateau United (Nigeria) (0-3)
AS Port (Togo) 2-1 (4-3 pen) AC Leopards (Congo) (1-2)
Zesco (Zambia) 7-0 JKU (Zanzibar) (0-0)
ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire) 3-2 Buffles (Benin) (1-1)
UD Songo (Mozambique) 2-0 Ngaya (Comoros) (1-1)
Be Forward (Malawi) 1-2 AS Vita (DR Congo) (0-4)
FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) 1-2 Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) (0-3)
Pamplemousses (Mauritius) 1-0 Bidvest (South Africa) (0-2)
Difaa El Jadida (Morocco) 10-0 Benfica (Guinea Bissau)
Benfica (Guinea Bissau) 0-0 Difaa El Jadida (Morocco) (0-10)
Lydia Academic (Burundi) 0-1 Rayon Sports (Rwanda) (1-1)
Saturday, 24 February 2018
Armed Forces (Gambia) vs Zanaco (Zambia) (0-3