Liberian football fans may have missed the opportunity of watching a Liberian club play in the group stage of the 2017 CAF Champions League, but they will have a chance to show their support to two of the qualified clubs for which Liberians are playing.
The competition’s defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, which is the current employer of Liberia international winger, Anthony Snoti Laffor, reached the group stage after a 3-2 aggregate win over Ugandan club Kampala City Council Football Club.
The South African side won the first leg at home 2-1 and went into the return leg with the best chance of qualifying despite Kampala City scoring a crucial goal away from home.
With the score at 2-1, Kampala City needed to win by at least a single goal to book a chance into the group stage, while Sundowns needed just a point or a win to make the group stage.
The Ugandans made use of the home advantage as they began the match as the better side. They kept the Sundowns under pressure until scoring at the half hour mark. Ugandan striker Geofrey Sserunkuma gave his side the much-needed lead to level the score on aggregate, as Kampala City were sneaking into the group stage while the Sundowns were on the verge of missing out.
Despite some brilliant efforts made by the Sundowns to get the score leveled in the first half, Kampala City prevented its visitors from seeing the back of the net until the end of the first half. In search of a goal, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane brought on Laffor in place of South African defender Calvin Anele Ngcongca.
With more attackers on the pitch, the Sundowns were unable to get a goal early in the second half until Laffor became their savior with just ten minutes to end the math. The former Super Sports United forward scored with a shot from within Kampala City’s penalty area that went straight into the roof of the net. The goal restored the hopes of the South African and it was Kampala City that needed to score to stand chance of qualifying.
However, the attacking Sundowns became more defensive in the remaining 10 minutes, preventing their counterparts from scoring. They held onto the 1-1 score line until the end of the match to advance on a 3-2 aggregate.
Also in the group stage was Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, the club side of Liberia national team hero William Jebor. The former Ponferradina striker saw his side going through to the group stage of the Champions League following a 5-4 win on penalties over Gabonese club, FC Mounana.
Both teams ended a 1-1 aggregate after the 90 minutes and the winner was to be decided in penalties.
Wydad won the first leg by a single goal scored by Jebor in the 83rd minute on home soil, but failed to defend their lead in the return leg after a 1-0 defeat.
Both Jebor and Laffor will know their opponents in the group stage when the draw takes place Tuesday, March 21.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr
