Boboye bemoans lack of strikers to battle Algeria’s CR Belouizdad

The Technical Adviser of Akwa United, Kennedy Boboye, has bemoaned the absence of quality attackers in his squad ahead of their second leg CAF Champions League clash with CR Belouizdad. The reigning NPFL champions pipped the Algerian side 1-0 in Uyo on Sunday to begin their campaign on a winning note. Friday Ubong’s 88th-minute effort […]

The Technical Adviser of Akwa United, Kennedy Boboye, has bemoaned the absence of quality attackers in his squad ahead of their second leg CAF Champions League clash with CR Belouizdad.

The reigning NPFL champions pipped the Algerian side 1-0 in Uyo on Sunday to begin their campaign on a winning note.

Friday Ubong’s 88th-minute effort made the difference in the first leg of the preliminary round match.

Boboye, in a post-match conference, said he would approach the return leg clash on September 19 with a different formation.

“We will go there with a different formation. What we need is an attacker who can hold the ball. If we can’t score, let’s try to keep the one we have. We haven’t gotten the qualities needed upfront. If we play to instruction and the formation to be used, the team should perform well.

“This is what we have gotten. Most of these players we tried to get didn’t come. We can’t stop players from travelling. It’s unfortunate that we started the tournament very early. We haven’t been able to play together. By the time we go beyond this stage, we would be better than before,” he said.

Meanwhile, the coach of CR Belouizdad, Karim Bekhti has vowed to crush Akwa United when both teams clash again this weekend.

“The team played better in the first half and looked tired at the second stanza,” Bekhti said.

“On the whole, we have learnt our lesson. The return leg should be in our favour. We will do everything possible to win,” he added