Enyimba lead continental clubs chase for glory

However, Kano Pillars who would have travelled to Morocco for the first leg of their first round match against Moghreb Tetouan in the CAF Champions League are not going to be in action because of the robbery attack they suffered recently. The unfortunate incident which saw five key players of the team sustaining injuries from […]

However, Kano Pillars who would have travelled to Morocco for the first leg of their first round match against Moghreb Tetouan in the CAF Champions League are not going to be in action because of the robbery attack they suffered recently. The unfortunate incident which saw five key players of the team sustaining injuries from gun shots compelled the Confederation of African Football, CAF, to shift their match.
But it is too early to forget how convincingly the four Nigerian clubs qualified for the first round of the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Pillars campaigning in the Champions League began their operation on a brilliant note by winning 2-0 away against Al-Malakia of South Sudan. The reigning Nigerian champions completed a double in the return leg courtesy of a brace from Gambo Muhammed and Adamu Hassan to give the ‘Masu-gida’ boys 5-0 aggregate win over the South Sudanese side.
Pillars therefore were to meet Moghreb of Morocco in the first round. The Moroccan side on its part had edged C.O.B of Mali 3-2 on aggregate to set up the clash against the Nigerian Champions. Though the encounter will not hold this weekend, it will come up in a week’s time.
Although Pillars will not be in action this weekend, Nigeria’s other representative in the Champions League, Enyimba will host Smouha of Egypt in Aba. The people’s elephant who are two times winners of the CAF Champions League had an easy ride over Buffles de Borgeou of Benin Republic to reach this stage.
The other Champions League representative, Enyimba defeated Buffles de Borgeou of Benin Republic 2-0 in the first leg and won 1-0 in the return leg to qualify for the first round on 3-0 aggregate.  Enyimba will therefore welcome Egyptian side Smouha with only one thing in mind- to win convincingly to make the return leg a less difficult task.
Captain of the side, Chinedu Udoji said the Peoples elephants know they are up against a formidable opponent and would give everything to win the match.
He said despite the fact that not much is known about the visitors, they will not take Enyimba by surprise when they meet tomorrow at the Aba township stadium.
“We don’t need anybody to tell us that we are up against a strong side. We have played against North Africans before and we know how tricky they can be.
“There is nothing to take for granted. We are going to put everything into the match. If we win very well in the first leg, the return leg may not come with too much pressure again.
“Although we want to win, we are not going to put ourselves under pressure. We shall only try to be careful in the way we approach the match,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is an open secret that morale in the camp of Enyimba is not really high due to unpaid wages. It is said some of the senior players in the team even threatened to boycott Enyimba’s league match against Akwa United. Thus, the 0-0 draw played against Akwa gave credence to the wrangling in the team over unpaid salaries.
In the lower cadre of the CAF competitions, Warri Wolves who are playing host to Ethiopian side, Dedebit are also talking tough. The Confederation Cup representatives won both legs of their preliminary round matches to get to the first round.
Wolves won their first leg match against Burkina Faso’s Racing Club Bobo-Dioulasso 1-0 and won the return leg 3-0 in Warri to progress on 4-0 aggregate.
Warri Wolves’ Lordson Ichull and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu are confident their opponents from Ethiopia will not survive in Warri today.
The players said they will help propel their team to a convincing victory over Dedebit.
Ichull said “We are battle ready. We have to make maximum use of the first leg which we are playing at home. We are aware that we have a second leg to play so a good win in the first leg will give us the confidence we need to meet them in the return leg.
“It is not going to be an easy match but going by the morale in camp, I am sure everybody is ready to go. We shall give our best to record a convincing victory over our visitors”.
Ibenegbu also said victory will surely go the way of Wolves because the team is motivated by its preliminary round result.
He said “We are expecting nothing less than victory over Dedebit. We are not going to underrate our opponents but I don’t see them stopping us.
“If you look at the way we qualified for this round, you will agree with me that getting to this stage was not by accident. We deserve to be here and we are not going to look back”.
Of the two CAF Confederation teams, Dolphins can be said to be facing an uphill task. The Port-Harcourt side who have an away date with Club Africain of Tunisia had to endure a penalty shoot out to win over Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea after they both tied 1-1. Dolphins had lost the first leg 0-1.
So going by how they qualified for the first round, it will not be out of place to say Dolphins have a mountain to climb. Club Africain, a highly experienced side will surely give the Nigerian side tough times in Tunis.
The three Nigerian clubs in action this weekend have to prove to Nigerians that their preliminary round exploits were not accidental discharges.
Apart from Dolphins who struggled to qualify, the other clubs qualified for the first round with a swagger. Enyimba, Pillars and Warri Wolves recorded victories home and away to book their places in the first round of their respective competitions.
Even as these clubs are confident going into their continental engagements, it is important to note that they all started their Nigeria Premier League season on lack-lustre notes. While Warri Wolves lost 0-1 to Gabros in Nnewi, Enyimba and Dolphins were held to 0-0 by Akwa United and Kwara United.