CAF Cup setback for Nigeria as brave Tornadoes bow out

Nigerian hopes of winning the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time suffered a setback Friday when Niger Tornadoes were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate by debutants Santoba of Guinea.

Tornadoes led twice in Conakry before coming from behind to draw the preliminary round second leg 3-3 in Conakry, but the brave showing was fruitless having lost 2-1 at home two weekends ago.

Since the second-tier Confederation Cup was launched in 2004, the closest a Nigerian club has come to lifting the trophy was Dolphins finishing runners-up one year later.

With Tornadoes out, Nigerian hopes rest on Enugu Rangers, one of 11 clubs who received byes into the round of 32 scheduled for September.

Alebiosu Segun twice nudged Tornadoes in front during the second leg only for Abourahmane Bah and Gaoussou Siby to equalise before halftime in the Guinean capital.

Ousmane Camara put Santoba ahead for the first time in the return match on 80 minutes and Godwin Zaki levelled five minutes later to set up a tense finish.

Had Tornadoes scored again they would have qualified on away goals, but Santoba survived to book a last-32 date with San Pedro of the Ivory Coast.

On a night of shocks, Kimondoni Municipal Council of Tanzania and Al Ahly Shandy of Sudan bowed out after failing to build on drawing away in first legs.

Newcomers Kimondoni fell 2-1 at home to AS Kigali of Rwanda in Dar es Salaam to fail by the same score on aggregate following a goalless first meeting.

Yusuph Ndikumana converted an 87th-minute penalty for the Tanzanian side, but it was too late too late after Rashid Kalisa and Eric Nsabimana had given the visitors a two-goal advantage.

Perennial underachievers Al Ahly Shandy of Sudan flopped again as they were held 1-1 at home by Bandari of Kenya to lose on away goals after a scoreless first leg.

The only match to go with form was Al Khartoum of Sudan outplaying AS Arta of Djibouti 3-0 to qualify 4-1 overall.

Hassan Sheikh Eldin, Dominic Abui and Mohamed Mustafa scored as the Khartoum outfit halted a run of three preliminary round exits from 2013.