Tusker FC have been knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 with Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie at the Azam Complex on Sunday, October 25.

The result handed Singida a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place in the next round, having won the first leg 1-0 at Nyayo National Stadium last weekend.

The Brewers, who qualified for the continental competition after winning the Mozzart Bet Cup, needed a victory in Tanzania to keep their hopes of reaching the group stage alive. However, despite a spirited performance and a late equaliser, they failed to find the second goal that would have forced a penalty shootout.

Jonathan Sowah put the hosts ahead in the 68th minute, extending Singida’s aggregate lead and leaving Tusker with an uphill task in the closing stages.

The Kenyan side responded through Nigerian forward Victor Mbaoma, who struck eight minutes from time to level the match. Substitute Abud Omar’s free-kick forced the Singida goalkeeper into a save, with Hassan Warsama collecting the rebound before setting up Mbaoma to finish.

Tusker pressed forward in search of another goal that would have taken the tie to penalties, but Singida held firm to secure qualification.

The visitors had made a bright start, creating several chances in the opening stages as they sought to overturn their first-leg deficit.

Steven Etyang threatened in the sixth minute after connecting with Ian Simiyu’s long ball, but his effort drifted narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Etyang combined with Mbaoma before receiving the ball back for a volley that narrowly missed the target.

Singida also created opportunities in an entertaining first half. David Henry attempted to break through, but Eugene Ikutwa intervened with a timely sliding tackle. James Mwashinga later threatened from Sowah’s low pass, while Tusker midfielder Hassan Warsama fired over after advancing through the middle.

The hosts continued to apply pressure, with Exauce Sagesse Nzaou heading over from Mwashinga’s delivery. Ande Habib Cirille also tested the Kenyan defence, while Sowah came close towards the end of the half before Tom Teka cleared his header.

The teams went into the break level, with Tusker needing to maintain their attacking intensity after the restart.

John Otieno came close 10 minutes into the second half, heading wide from Simiyu’s delivery as the Brewers continued to search for an opening goal.

Singida gradually grew into the contest, however, forcing goalkeeper Perrauld Ndinga into a timely save following a move involving Cirille and Zakaria. Ibrahim Imoro then fired over as the Tanzanian side stepped up the pressure.

Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Sowah found the net, giving Singida a two-goal advantage on aggregate.

Tusker refused to surrender and pulled one back through Mbaoma’s late finish, but the equaliser came too late to change the outcome of the tie.

The result brings Tusker’s continental campaign to an end, while Singida advance to the next round after successfully defending their first-leg advantage.