Power crash out of CAF Champions League
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SportsZambian champions Power Dynamos have suffered a disappointing early exit from the CAF Champions League after a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Sudanese side Al Merrikh in the preliminary round. Power were eliminated on Saturday following a 1-0 loss in the return leg played at Levy…
Zambian champions Power Dynamos have suffered a disappointing early exit from the CAF Champions League after a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Sudanese side Al Merrikh in the preliminary round.
Power were eliminated on Saturday following a 1-0 loss in the return leg played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola.
Al Merrikh won the first leg 1-0 in Kigali.
Fenohasina Razafimaro put Al Merrikh ahead six minutes after the break with a low shot from a throw-in that beat goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga.
Mulenga appeared to misjudge the strike and the ball crossed the line before he could get a hand to it.
The goal meant Power needed two to progress, and despite pushing in the second half, the AbaYellow failed to find the back of the net.
A frustrated Coach Oswald Mutapa said the failure to score in both legs cost Power a place in the next round.
“Yes we are out. Tough pill to swallow. We needed to win today’s game for us to progress. We knew their strength, we actually played to our strength, we had ball players that would carry us forward,” Mutapa said.
He admitted Al Merrikh were a well-organized opponent.
“In the second half we conceded in the minutes we were not supposed to concede as we now started chasing the game and chasing the result. Yes we are out but equally we played a very good side that was technically very good and had structure. They have players who made us run for our money,” Mutapa said.
“We lost it by not scoring in the two games. We had a better second half but it is all about converting chances into goals,” he added.
Power were hoping to build on their group stage appearance in last season’s CAF Champions League.
Instead, their continental campaign ends at the first hurdle.
Al Merrikh advances to the Second Preliminary Round scheduled for 16-18 October and 23-25 October.
The 16 winners from that round will progress to the group stage at the end of November.
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