Libyan side Al Nasr knocked out of Confederation Cup

TRIPOLI – Libya staged a Caf club match for the first time since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown as supporters watched hosts Al Nasr go out of the Confederation Cup after a 1-1 draw with FAR Rabat of Morocco. The security-related ban on Libyan national teams and clubs playing at home was lifted last month after a four-day fact-finding mission by a Caf delegation to the oil-rich north African country. Al Nasr from eastern city Benghazi were the first to benefit from the decision as they looked to overcome a 1-0 first-leg defeat by 2005 Confederation Cup winners FAR Rabat three weeks ago. Home hopes rose when Cameroonian Edet Otobong put Al Nasr ahead on 71 minutes. Youssef Kaddioui then silenced the 10,000 crowd by equalising for FAR. The match finished 1-1 with FAR going through 2-1 on aggregate. Libyan authorities have battled to stamp out post-revolution violence after a 2011 uprising ended the four-decade dictatorship of Gaddafi, who was killed in his home town of Sirte. Cairo-based Caf officials will have watched developments closely as the country is scheduled to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in capital Tripoli, second city Benghazi and Misrata, scene of bitter fighting during the revolt. Elsewhere, Etoile from Sousse in Tunisia the only club to win all five Caf club competitions - booked their place in the next round with a 5-3 aggregate win over Onze Createurs of Mali. Etoile - who took a 2-1 lead to Bamako - won the away leg 3-2, with all but one of the five goals coming from the penalty spot. Mossab Sassi claimed two goals for the Tunisians with Moussa Maazou scoring the other. Hamidou Sinayoko netted twice for Onze. Liga Muculmana of Mozambique humiliated Lobi Stars of Nigeria 7-1 to progress. Maputo-based Muculmana qualified 8-4 on aggregate after losing the first leg 3-1 three weeks ago. The Nigerians started well with Chimaobi Nwaogu scoring early to cancel the Mozambicans’ away goal. A brace from Sonito and one from Josimar, then gave Liga a 3-1 half-time advantage and the clubs were level.A second-half red card for Stars goalkeeper John Lawrence swung the game decisively in favour of Muculmana with Sonito scoring another two goals and Josimar and Pelembe one each. This was a record winning margin for a Mozambican club in the 10-year competition, eclipsing the 3-0 victory of Ferroviario Maputo over Kenyan visitors Gor Mahia last year.

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Libyan side Al Nasr knocked out of Confederation Cup