With a 6-0 victory over 10-man Rivers United on Sunday, defending champion Wydad Casablanca of Morocco advanced to the 2022–2023 CAF Champions League with a 7-2 overall score.
The NPFL champions won the first leg in Port Harcourt by a score of 2-1 but were shut out in the return match without scoring a goal.
The Nigerian players were unmotivated despite Gov. Nyesom Wike’s guarantee of a US$40,000 bonus each participant.
Ayoub El Amloud scored the first goal for the hosts in the second leg encounter at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca in the 33rd minute.
Four minutes later, Mutawakili Seidu, the Ghanaian goalkeeper for Rivers United, was dismissed for acting unsportsmanlikely in a crucial area.
On the cusp of halftime, Yahya Jabrane successfully converted the ensuing penalty to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
In the 50th and 58th minutes, respectively, Bouly Sambou added a third and a fourth goal to complete his hat trick.
In the 70th minute, Jabrane also scored his second and fifth goals.
With a forceful header from close range in the 90th minute, Hamid Ahdad sealed the Moroccans’ thrashing and made it a horrible evening for the visitors.
As a result, no Nigerian club would participate in the lucrative CAF Champions League group stage.
Following their elimination, Plateau United of Jos will now join Rivers United in the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
In order to have a chance of making it to the cup competition’s group stages, they will compete against teams in the playoff round.
After the draws are made on Monday, Rivers United and Plateau United will know who their Confederation Cup playoff opponents are.
