Nigeria’s early setbacks in continental football have raised concerns after Shooting Stars and Rivers United were eliminated from CAF competitions, leaving only two Nigerian clubs in the race.
Rangers of Enugu and El-Kanemi Warriors progressed to the next stage, while Shooting Stars and Rivers United exited at the first round.
Shooting Stars’ Continental Return Ends Early
Shooting Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in the second leg, surrendering their 1-0 advantage from the first encounter in Abeokuta.
The Tunisian side therefore advanced 2-1 on aggregate, ending Shooting Stars’ first continental campaign in 27 years.
Former Shooting Stars and Super Eagles goalkeeper David Aigbovo described the elimination as disappointing, saying the club should have gone further after returning to continental football.
“I felt so sad when the news of 3SC’s early elimination came,” Aigbovo said.
He also questioned the club’s recruitment for the CAF assignment and argued that stronger preparation could have produced a better result.
Rivers United Also Eliminated
Rivers United suffered a similar fate in the CAF Champions League, leaving Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors as Nigeria’s remaining representatives in the continental competitions.
The early exits have renewed concerns over the competitiveness and preparation of Nigerian clubs on the African stage.
