Plateau United have failed in their quest to reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League following a contentious 1-0 defeat to Esperance in Tunis today.
The Nigerian side won the first leg in Abuja 2-1 last Sunday and needed to avoid defeat in Tunisia to advance to the lucrative group phase.
They held on into the final stages of the second leg in Tunis until Ben Romdhane struck from the penalty spot just seven minutes from full-time.
There was controversy though, as the penalty that led to the only goal was wrongly awarded.
Replays showed that there was indeed a foul by the Plateau United defender, but it was clearly committed outside the box even as the Esperance attacker dramatically fell into the box looking for the penalty.
The referee obliged Esperance’s request and Plateau United players vehemently protested.
However, since there was no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in play, there was no way to review the decision, and the penalty award stood.
Romdhane made no mistake from the spot and the Tunisian giants marched on to the group stages as the Nigeria Professional Football League runners-up were dumped out of the continent’s top club competition.
Nigeria’s other representatives left in Confederation of African Football competitions, Rivers United and Kwara United, will seek for better fortunes than Plateau United’s in Morocco.
NPFL champions Rivers United take a slim 2-1 advantage to Casablanca to face CAF Champions League holders Wydad Athletic Club tomorrow, while Kwara United are up against another Moroccan side RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup tonight.
The Ilorin side defeated the Confederation Cup holders 3-1 in Lagos last week and need to avoid a two-goal defeat to secure a group stage spot.
