OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 10.00am.
SHOOTING Stars of Nigeria staged a dramatic second-leg recovery on Sunday to reach the second round of the African Champions League.
West African champions Stars trounced Kaloum of Guinea 6-0 in Ibadan with two goals each from Baldwin Bazuaye, Duke Udi and Peter Obanor to qualify 6-3 on aggregate. The stunning success by the 1984 and 1996 Champions League (formerly Cup) runners-up wiped out memories of a shock 3-0 loss in Guinea two weeks ago that appeared to spell the end for the Nigerians.
Shooting Stars will face Daring Club Motema Pembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo in a delayed second-round tie on dates to be announced and the winners qualify for the lucrative mini-leagues.
The winners will join title holders ASEC of Cote d’Ivoire, Al-Ahly of Egypt, Raja Casablanca of Morocco, Hearts of Oak of Ghana, Saint Louisienne of Reunion, Esperance of Tunisia and Dynamos of Zimbabwe in the group phase.
Raja Casablanca squeezed through on penalties in Mali following a 2-1 loss to Djoliba while Al-Ahly marched on despite a 1-0 defeat against Rayon Sport in Rwanda where Billy Mbusa scored the first-half winner. Dynamos were runners-up to ASEC last year and a 16th-minute header from veteran midfielder Lloyd Mutasa gave them a 1-0 home win over Vital’O of Burundi and a 3-0 aggregate success.