Kenyan Premier League giants Tusker FC were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup after a 1-0 loss to CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup play-off at Stade Taieb Mhiri.
The Brewers were left fuming after missing a place in the group stages, with the defeat against the Tunisians sealed by a highly questionable penalty.
The decision by the referee looked more than a little suspect after Kalos Kirenge was penalised for what appeared to be minimal contact on Ghaith Maaroufi.
Tusker controlled the possession early on and had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the sixth minute when Ibrahim Joshua let rip with a low shot from just inside the box, but he saw his effort saved by Ayden Dahmen.
The Tunisian keeper, though, spilled the initial shot straight back into the path of Boniface Muchiri who proceeded to round him, but saw his shot cleared off the goal line by Charles Momanyi.
Sfaxien were piling the pressure on Tusker and Alaa Ghram then breached the defensive line to go clear on goal but fired over the bar with a powerful effort on his right foot.
Sfaxien were awarded a penalty on the half-hour mark which was converted by Aymen Hirzi to give the hosts the lead.
The ineffective Macharia was pulled off soon after half-time and replaced by Teddy Osokto try and give Tusker more attacking impetus.
The Brewers won a free-kick in the 66th minute after Muchiri was fouled by Ghaith Maaroufi just outside the box. Muchiri stepped up and he struck it cleanly but it was straight at the Sfaxien keeper.
Soon after, Chris Kouakou had a chance to get on the scoresheet. Mohamed Nasraoui did well down the left-hand side to skip his way past two Tusker defenders before delivering into the box for Kouakou, who headed over.
Hamdouni was proving to be a thorn in Tusker’s side as he cut inside past Eugene Asike but fired over from the angle.
Tusker were reduced to 10 men in added time after defender Kalos Kirenge received a second yellow card.
Sfaxien then played a long ball over the top and Brian Bwire came out but Mohamed Soula just got to the ball ahead of him and with the goalkeeper in no-man’s-land tried to put the ball into the empty net from long range but it went wide as the keeper breathed a sigh of relief.
And in the end, Tusker were unable to break down the stubborn Sfaxien defence and exited in heartbreaking fashion.
