By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
The Orange National League-1st Division Champions of Liberia, Watanga FC on Sunday, 11 suffers a huge humiliation in the debut game of the CAF Champions League.
The Orange National League-1st Division Champions of Liberia Watanga FC was beaten in an away fixture to the Champions of Nigerian Professional Football League, River United FC at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Nigeria on Sunday, 11 September of the 1st leg of the competition.
The Nigeria Professional Football League Champions dominated the game and score all three of the goals in the first half of the match.
The River United got two goals in the early minutes of the first 45th minutes from Kenechukwo Agu in the 8th minute and a cut finishing by leftback, Ebube Duru in the 18th minute with Ghana International defender Paul Acqual header in the 46th minute to give the home team a comfortable 3-0 win at halftime over Watanga FC.
Back from the break, Watanga FC puts pressure to get a goal in the early minutes of the second half but the back four of River United FC was able to secure a clean sheet in the early minutes of the second half.
And with much time and a taste for more goal from the home team in the second 45th minutes of the second half.
River United ‘s FC Maurice Chukwu missed from a chip in stoppage time to increase the score to 4-0 but it was goalkeeper Deru Julu who denied him from getting on the score sheet with River United FC winning a convincing 3-0 win over Watanga FC on Sunday, 10 September in Port Harcourt.
Coach Cooper Sannoh introduced Sheik Sesay in the second half to mark his official debut of the competition.
The return leg is scheduled for the 16-18 of September.
LISCRE FC levels points in CAF Federation Cup
In other development the 2022 Petro Tarde Cup winner and 2023 Super Cup winner of Liberia, LISCR FC was held to a goalless draw in the 1st leg of the CAF Confederation Cup at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, Monrovia on Sunday, 11 September.
The visitor had an early attempt on goal but was denied by the Shipping Boys of LISCR FC stop stopper Tomy Songo in the early minutes of the first 45th minutes but the home team too created several chances but failed to deliver it with both teams playing to a goalless draw during full 90th minutes of play
Interim Coach Christopher Wreh gives Aflah Allison and Musa Koulibaly the ir debut in Continental football with Benjamin Doe returning to CAF Champions League.
In a pre- match press conference, LISCR FC Interim Coach Christopher Wreh mentioned that the team have several of it keys players absent from the squad due to a the WAFU Zone -A Men’s U-20 tournament held in Mauritania. The players include defender, John Momo, midfielder Marlon Harrison and goalkeeper Juanito Sayeh.
“I believe in the team and I believe in the players of Liscr. We have a very good players. The mentality is good. Liscr is doing it for Liberia. So tomorrow if we win and go to Ivory Coast, we can fight it there. Anything can happen. It’s football” said Interim Coach Christopher Wreh.
For his part, Coach SC Gagnoa Soualiho Haidara said that the meeting between his club and LISCR FC is the first of its kind from Liberia.
“This is my third year with the team. My objectives is to get good results here to better prepare for the second leg. rest assured both legs are important.” said Coach Haidara.
The return leg for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup schedule for the 17 September.
Watanga FC welcome River United FC in Monrovia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, while LISCR FC travels to Ivory Coast to muscle with SC Gagnoa on 17 September at 13:00 GMT.
The CAF Champions League, commonly known as the Total Energies CAF Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and contested by various League Champions in member states.
The competition winners are decided through a round-robin group stage to qualify for a double legged knockout stage, and then a single-leg final. The competition is among the most prestigious competition around the world and most prestigious club competition in Africa.