adminLeague after they held hosts Raja Casablanca to a goalless draw in Morocco, while closest rivals Cotonsport lost 2-0.
Enyimba already qualified for the last four of the competition a week ago, while the second semi-final ticket was to be slugged out between Al Hilal and Cotonsport of Cameroon, who were tied on seven points each before yesterday’s final group games.
Al Hilal then did enough to draw 0-0 at Raja Casablanca, while Cotonsport fell 2-0 to Enyimba in Aba.
The Sudanese giants finished on eight points, a point ahead of Cotonsport.
Nigerian champions Enyimba have been undefeated in Africa’s premier club competition since October 2008 and did not appear to want to slow down in front of their home fans against a team who
humiliated them in the same competition in September 2008 by thrashing them 3-0 in Garoua. They thus finished top of the group on 14 points from six matches and will take on Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the semifinal of the competition early next month.
Against Cotonsport, Enyimba took the lead after 45 minutes through a penalty taken by striker Ifeanyi Ede, who made up for several misses earlier in the encounter.
Man-of-the-match Uche Kalu was brought down inside the box by Cotonsport’s Niger international goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly and Ede tucked away the resulting spot kick.
The Cameroonian champions gave as much as they got especially in the midfield where Michel Balokog held sway. Goalkeeper Kassly made two superb saves off Josiah Maduabuchi and the impressive Kalu in the 49th and 52nd minutes, respectively
“The People’s Elephant” doubled their advantage five minutes from time through a free kick smashed home by left back Valentine Nwabaeli on a water-logged pitch caused by heavy downpour. The Champions League semifinals will be played in the weekend of 1-2 October, while the return leg matches will be played a fortnight later. – Supersport.
Online Reporter