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Nigerian supporters attack referee after Enugu Rangers eliminated
News Date: 24th May 2005
A Malian referee was assaulted by Nigerian fans on Monday as the qualifying phase of the African Confederation Cup came to a stormy end.
Supporters of Enugu Rangers reportedly flung Coman Coulibaly to the ground and beat him after the club were eliminated on away goals by Moroccan visitors FAR Rabat in the second leg of a fourth round tie.
Enugu came from behind to win the return match 2-1 having trailed 1-0 from the first leg in North Africa two weeks ago. The game was delayed 24 hours due to torrential rain at the weekend.
Riot police had to rescue Coulibaly, his Malian assistants and match commissioner Alhaji Jawula from Ghana from a mob after the thrilling clash between former winners of African titles.
Many Nigerians in the crowd felt 1977 African Cup Winners Cup holders Enugu were robbed of a third goal in the final minute, believing an Edward Ofere shot crossed the line before being cleared.
FAR join Arab Contractors and Ismailia of Egypt, Dolphin of Nigeria, FC 105 Libreville of Gabon, Fello Star of Guinea, King Faisal Babes of Ghana and AS Marsa of Tunisia in a May 28 Cairo draw that will split the survivors into two mini-leagues.
The first Mororccan winners of the African Champions Cup 20 years ago, FAR snatched an 18th-minute lead when Jawad Ouadouch lobbed the ball over onrushing Enugu goalkeeper Segun Oluwaniyi.
Nigerian captain Okechukwu Odita levelled one minute before half-time, sending goalkeeper Tarik al-Jarmouni the wrong way from a penalty awarded when Abdessadek Hafid handled.
Enugu, pipped by Asante Kotoko of Ghana for a place in the first Confederation Cup final last year, scored again in the 79th minute as Sam Ledor headed in an Ofere cross with FAR wilting under sustained pressure.
Dolphin, the other Nigerian challengers for the 300,000-dollar first prize in a competition modelled on the UEFA Cup in Europe, drew 2-2 with SuperSport United in South Africa to advance 6-3 on aggregate.
Joint leading Confederation Cup scorer Abram Raselemane cancelled leads given to the Port Harcourt visitors by Oshuko Ojobo and Kelechi Osunwa, whose first leg hat-trick effectively settled the tie.
Another impressive qualifier were Arab Contractors of Egypt, who used a numerical superiority to trounce Africa Sports of Ivory Coast 3-0 in Cairo after a goalless first leg.
Alaa Abdelghani joined Raselemane on the five-goal mark by converting a penalty soon after the early expulsion of Ishola Shaibu and Mohamed Fahim and Talaat Muharam added second half goals.
Contractors will be joined in the draw by compatriots Ismailia, who received their second consecutive bye when Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa withdrew citing domestic fixture congestion.
Another club to record a handsome success were Fello Star of Guinea, who triumphed 3-0 over Bamboutos Mbouda in Cameroon having taken a fragile one-goal advantage into the return match.
Alseny Camara opened the scoring in the 37th minute and struck again three minutes into stoppage time after Ibrahima Camara had put the provincial team two goals ahead midway through the second half.
Zambian air force club Red Arrows led twice in Kumasi before conceding a late goal and losing 3-2 to King Faisal Babes of Ghana, who qualified 4-3 on aggregate after a drawn first encounter.
Prince Antwi struck twice after Victor Lupiya and Sam Gondwe had edged Arrows ahead and Eric Gawu was the Faisal hero, scoring his fourth Confederation Cup goal five minutes from full-time.
Tunisian club AS Marsa survived the late expulsion of Tarek Benchrouda and Ikbal Rouatbi to beat USMA from neighbouring Algeria 5-4 on penalties after a second 1-1 draw, this time in Tunis. Algerian Hocine Achiou was also sent off.
Gabonese striker Mintou Doucoure put USMA ahead in first half stoppage time and mifielder Khaled al-Hirech levelled with his fourth cup goal 71 minutes into the North African showdown.
Captain Juste Otomo converted a last minute penalty to give FC 105 Libreville of Gabon a 2-1 win over AS Aviacao of Angola in Franceville and a 3-2 aggregate win. Joao Periera gave the visitors an early lead that was cancelled by Bertrand Bouity.
The first four group matches will be played over the weekend of July 22-24 and are also scheduled for August, September and October with the group winners advancing to a two-leg decider during November.
Source: GNA
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