An 83rd minute header from substitute striker Muad Eisa helped Al-Ittihad of Libya to a narrow 1-0 win over a spirited Akwa United side in the first leg of their First Round CAF Confederation Cup match on Wednesday night in Tunisia.
The Promise Keepers were just 7 minutes away from maintaining their unbeaten away record in the competition when Eisa head home a cross from the right to secure his side the win.
Al-ittihad were made to fight hard for the victory in a game that Akwa United were determined to get a positive result.
An engaging first half saw both sides struggling to establish themselves and gain control of the game, but they were only able to cancel out each other in every attempt.
However, the hosts managed to make two attempts at goal which were perfectly dealt with by Ojo Olorunleke. Akwa United's only attempt in the first half was from Kodjovi Dadzie's free kick that was kept out by Al-Ittihad's goalkeeper.
Both teams made tactical substitutions in the second half, Adeshina Gata and Gabriel Okechukwu replaced Ubong Friday and Victor Mbaoma and Al-Ittihad exhausted all their three substitutions and it paid off as one of the substitutes Muad Eisa got the decisive goal in the 83rd minute to hand his team the win.
The 1-0 defeat was Akwa United's first loss away from home in CAF Confederation Cup competition and they will be heading back to their fortress, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo for the return leg of the match in ten days time with the hope of overturning the result.
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