Nigerians hopes of watching their own clubs participate in the 2023–2024 CAF Champions League have been dashed as their representatives, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba and Remo Stars FC of Ikenne crashed out of the tournament on Sunday.
Both teams were knocked out after failing to get the needed results despite playing at the homes after recording impressive performances in the first leg encounters played away from their comfort zones.
Neither Enyimba nor Remo could benefit from playing at home as they were knocked out by Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya and Medeama SC of Ghana respectively.
Enyimba were held to a 0-0 draw in Aba and were knocked out because of their 4-3 loss in the reverse fixture while Remo Stars lost 3-2 on penalties after recording a 1-1 aggregate scoreline.
This development will come as a setback for both teams, their managements and fans who would have been dreaming of progressing into the next round after their impressive performances away from home.
With this latest setback Nigeria as a football nation will have to wait as no Nigerian football club has won the CAF Champions League title since Enyimba International Football Club of Aba won it in 2003 and 2004.
Both teams will have to return to the drawing board and get themselves back to their best as they continue their preparation for the new Nigeria Professional Football League season.