Plateau United FC of Jos on Sunday suffered a 1-0 home defeat in the hands of visiting Simba FC of Tanzania in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, first leg.
The lone goal of the match was scored by Clatous Chama of Simba in the 54th minute of play.
Chama converted a Luis Miquissone’s shot that was pushed to his path by the goal keeper.
Plateau United had started sluggishly but gradually raised the tempo of their game after 10 minutes of the encounter that took place at the Rwang Pang stadium, Jos.
They came close to scoring by hitting the bar of their opponents twice in the tenth second of play.
First, Dennis Nya poked his effort and it struck the bar, while Abba Umar’s effort to convert the rebound again hit the bar.
Uche Onuasonya of the Jos-based club created space for himself in the box in the 35th minute, but shot wide off the goal post.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Genot Rhor, Chief Coach, Austin Eguaveon and other technical officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) watched the encounter at the stadium.
Others who watched the match were Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare and Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, among others.
Before the commencement of the match, a minute silence was observed in honour of football legend, Diego Maradona, who died of heart attack in Argentina on Oct. 25 at the age of 60.
