- Victoria United FC of Limbe lost their maiden game in the CAF Champions League this Sunday in Douala
- Emmanuel Mamah scored the only goal that put visiting Samartex 1996 in the advantage position from the first-leg game
- The return game will be played in a week in Ghana to determine the club that progresses to face USGNN or Raja Athletic Club of CasablancaÂ
Victoria United FC’s chances of making it beyond the first preliminary round of the 2924/25 CAF Champions League reduced by a huge proportion this Sunday after they crashed to a 0-1 defeat to FC Samartex 1996 this afternoon at the Japoma Omnisport stadium.
Emmanuel Mamah scored the only goal of the game to secure a 1-0 win for the Ghanaian champions in their first-ever game in the competition.
Victoria United, winner of Cameroon’s MTN Elite One championship last season and lone representative of the country in the CAF Champions League were hoping to spring a surprise as they did by winning their national championship last term but, it wasn’t to be.
Samartex came to Douala prepared on and off the pitch and manifested that even before the start of the game as they delayed kick-off by close to an hour, claiming Victoria United FC had drafted ineligible players. The Ghanaians succeeded to reduce the Victoria United squad to just 13 players, with the approval of the match officials.
When the game finally started, Samartex took the contest to their hosts though it was their first steps in the competition.
Both sides fought to a stand still in the opening 45 minutes to the disappointment of the fans at the near empty Stadium.
Victoria United were caught napping earlier in the second segment via Mamah who beat the vigilance of the hosts defense to put the visitors ahead.
The goal from the Ghanaians raised their tails and gave them the motivation to hold unto the crucial away goal.
Though Palai Malai and Nathan Douala, whose qualification were protested in writing before kick-off tried to push the whole Victoria United FC team, the Ghanaians though missing key players held their grounds.
All attempts to get an equaliser from David Nganbe’s Victoria United proved abortive as Samartex held on to win their first game in the competition when the final whistle was blasted by the team of Djiboutian match officials.
The crucial away win for the Ghanaians gives them enough incentive for the return game scheduled for next weekend at the Accra Sports stadium in Ghana.
The aggregate winner of the tie will face ASGNN of Niger or Moroccan giants Raja Athletic Club in the second preliminary round of the competition later this month in a two-legged tie from which the winner will enter the group stage of the competition.
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