Nigeria league champions, Enyimba FC, weathered the storm to progress to the last eight of the CAF Champions League for the first time in four years.
The Peoples’ Elephant defeated Etoile du Sahel 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday evening to progress to the round robbing phase after the game ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Enyimba repeated the feat of 2004 where they overpowered the Tunisians on penalties to be crowned African champions for the second time in a row.
Having outclassed The Red Devils through three beautiful strikes from Mfon Udoh in Port Harcourt, the Aba-based side needed to avoid defeat by a four-goal margin at the Stade Olympique de Sousse, Sousse.
And the seven-time Nigerian champions came into the encounter with one purpose – which is to defend their lead from the corresponding fixture.
However, Faouzi Benzarti’s side began the impossible in front of 25,000 fans in the 42nd minute through a beautifully struck free-kick from Hamza Lahmar which beat Enyimba goalie Theophlius Afelokhai.
Etoile continued to take the game to the visitors after the interval and were rewarded in the 62nd minute, when Brazilian forward Diogo Acosta headed home from close range to double their lead on the night.
The Tunisia league leaders then completed a remarkable comeback in the 71st minute, when Acosta once again finished off another attack with a low shot from inside the box which beat Afelokhai.
The game therefore headed for penalties with both teams tied at 3-3 after regulation time.
Afelokhai however made up for conceding thrice early in the game by saving four spot kicks as Paul Aigbogun lads held on for a famous victory.
Etoile will now drop down to feature in the second-tier Confederation Cup, which they won last year.
The draw for the group stage will be held on May 24 in Cairo, Egypt.
