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Reigning NPFL champions Plateau United have been eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup after being thumped 4-0 in Algeria by USM Alger on Tuesday evening. Having won the first leg 2-1 in Nigeria, United were in pole position for the return clash at the Stade du 5-Juillet-1962 this week. However, having capitulated away in Tunisia, at Etoile du Sahel, in the First Round of the Champions League when they conceded three goals in eight minutes, they were again exposed defensively in North Africa as the hosts scored three in quarter of an hour. Oussama Darfalou opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark to level the tie on aggregate, before Kaddour Beldjilali fired home two minutes from the pause to give USMA the advantage. The impressive Darfalou then added his second in the 48th minute to leave Plateau with a mountain to climb, and Mohamed Benkhemassa secured a 5-2 aggregate win in the 81st minute. Despite United's elimination, the Nigerian top flight still has three representatives still standing in the Confed Cup, with MFM FC, Enyimba and Akwa United all in action on Wednesday. Also in Algiers, Ivorians ASEC Mimosas held Algeria's CR Belouizdad 0-0 to secure their progression following a 1-0 victory in Abidjan in the first leg. Komlan Agbegniadan was the hero when the two sides met at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny earlier in the month, and his strike - coupled with a resolute defensive display in North Africa - ensures ASEC can keep dreaming of adding another continental title to their crowded trophy room. Elsewhere, AS Vita Club secured their spot in the group stage with a thumping 5-1 victory away in Congo-Brazzaville against CS La Mancha. Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele netted four times during a convincing display as Les Dauphins Noirs served notice of their title credentials. Finally, Egypt's Al-Masry also booked their ticket in the Last 16 after seeing off Gabon's CF Mounana in Port Said. It wasn't a vintage display by the Green Eagles, who had been held away in the first leg, but the 2-1 aggregate triumph gives them time to improve and, having flexed their offensive muscles against Green Buffaloes earlier in the competition, will fancy their chances of causing a group-stage upset.
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