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By Amaechi Agbo

It was a mixed adventure for the two Nigeria clubs in the CAF Champions League first round matches as Akwa United and Rivers United posed different results in the first stage of the 2022 continental league.

CAF Champions League debutants, Akwa United on Sunday saw their journey in the Africa’s prestigious league competition cut short at the beginning after there crashed out on 2-1 aggregate defeat to Algeria champions, CR Belouizdad on Sunday, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The Nigeria champions failed to build on their first-leg 1-0 advantage as they conceded two late goals in Algeria on Sunday to lose 2-1 on aggregate, this leaving the league at the preliminary stage

Algeria Ligue 1 champions Belouizdad eliminated the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL winners Akwa United from the Champions League after a 2-0 win on Sunday.

The Belouizdadis showed resilience to overturn the one-goal deficit they suffered in Nigeria a week ago with two late goals at the Omar Hamadi Stadium.

Akwa United tried to resist the threats of their hosts as both teams settled for a goalless first 45 minutes but Hicham Khalfallah’s effort in the 72nd minute broke the deadlock in Algiers and Chemseddine Nessakh’s 84th-minute goal sealed their ticket for next round.

A week ago, the Algerian champions suffered a late blow at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium after Friday Ubong gave Akwa United a 1-0 win with his 88th-minute goal.

Belouizdad will now face ASEC Mimosas in the second preliminary round after the Ivory Coast giants defeated Senegal’s Teungueth 2-0 on aggregate.

Following Akwa United’s elimination, Nigeria still boast of a representative in Caf’s premier club competition after Rivers United saw off Tanzania’s Young Africans on Sunday.

After bagging a crucial away advantage with a 1-0 win last weekend, Stanley Eguma’s men waited until the 82nd minute for Uche Onuwasonaya to break the deadlock at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

The Pride of Rivers will now lock horns with Sudan’s Al Hilal who drew Ethiopia’s Fasil Kenema 3-3, but they progressed on away goals.

The next round of the Champions League games are scheduled to take place between October 15-17 while the second leg will be from October 22-24.