Bayelsa United stun CS Sfaxien in CAF Confederation Cup

Bayelsa United secured a shock 1-0 win over Tunisian giants CS Sfaxien in their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round playoff first leg at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

Coming on the back of a one-off 4-2 win over Guinean side Ashanti Golden Boys in the first preliminary round, NNL side and AITEO Cup winners Bayelsa United were looking to claim an important win on home soil ahead of their trip to Tunisia for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup playoff.

The visitors started the game strongly, with their intricate passing causing all sorts of problems for Bayelsa United and preventing them from seeing much of the ball. The eight-time Tunisian champions completely dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match, but failed to force home goalkeeper John Shuaibu into making any saves.

Bayelsa United turned up the heat and took charge of affairs in the match after enduring the Tunisian onslaught of the early stages, with captain Bernard Okoronwanta and Victory Beniangba forcing CS Sfaxien goalkeeper and captain Mohamed Gaaloul into a number of terrific saves as the half came to an end.

Beniangba started the second half as he ended the first, asking questions of the CS Sfaxien goalkeeper before he finally got his name on the scoresheet for his side with a goal of real class and sheer quality.

The forward was played in on goal and raced clear before displaying extreme composure to dribble past two retreating defenders and the goalkeeper and then tucking the ball into an empty net in the 56th minute of the encounter, sending the spectators in the stadium into raptures.

Bayelsa United held on for a memorable win against three-time winners CS Sfaxien in front of their fans in Yenagoa, picking up only their 10th ever win in continental competition.

They will now travel to Tunisia where they would prosecute the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round playoff at the Stade Taieb Mhiri Sfax on October 24th.