Lucky Emmanuel scored the only goal in the 25th minute, giving the 3SC a slender advantage to take to Tunisia for the return fixture. The hosts led 1-0 at half-time and protected that margin through a disciplined second half against the three-time Confederation Cup winners.
The result hands Shooting Stars a narrow but important edge. An away goal for Sfaxien in the second leg would leave the Oyo club needing to score in Tunisia. The return match is scheduled for the window of 11–13 September, with listings pointing to 13 September in Sfax.
Shooting Stars entered the tie on the back of a strong start to the new NPFL season, including a midweek win over Inter Lagos. CS Sfaxien, coached by Nabil Kouki, arrived after a 2-1 league victory over ES Zarzis and a draw at Stade Tunisien. Defender Hichem Baccar missed the trip through injury.
The Nigerian side, winners of the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992, used home support in Abeokuta to unsettle a Tunisian club with far deeper recent continental experience. Sfaxien enjoyed spells of possession after the interval but failed to find an equaliser.
The winner over two legs will continue in the Confederation Cup path towards the group stage. For Shooting Stars, Saturday’s clean sheet and Emmanuel’s finish give them something to defend. For Sfaxien, the task is now to overturn a one-goal deficit on home soil without conceding an away goal that would force them to win by two.