Nigeria’s ‘continental clubs’ talk tough

The two representatives in the CAF Champions League, Kano Pillars and Enyimba won their preliminary round matches. While Pillars recorded 2-0 away win over Al-Malaika of South Sudan, two time African champions, Enyimba defeated Buffles du Borgou of Benin Republic 2-0 in Aba.In the second tier competition, the Confederations Cup, it was mixed fortunes for […]

The two representatives in the CAF Champions League, Kano Pillars and Enyimba won their preliminary round matches. While Pillars recorded 2-0 away win over Al-Malaika of South Sudan, two time African champions, Enyimba defeated Buffles du Borgou of Benin Republic 2-0 in Aba.
In the second tier competition, the Confederations Cup, it was mixed fortunes for Nigeria as Warri Wolves got a vital 1-0 away victory over RC Bobodioulasso of Burkina Faso but Dolphins slipped in Equatorial Guinea where they were beaten 1-0 by Leones Vegatarians Leones.
Going by the performance of the four clubs, most Nigerian football fans are of the opinion that the clubs have waken from slumber and are ready to rumble.
It is an open secret that since Enyimba won the Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004, no Nigerian club has won the title again. Furthermore, no Nigerian side has won the Confederations Cup. Of course IICC and BCC Lions won it when it was known as Cup Winners Cup. Thus, Nigerian clubs have not justified their rating on the continent as they most times exited the continental competitions at the early stages.
However, by their recent performances, the quartet of Pillars, Enyimba, Wolves and even Dolphins could be saying they are into serious business.
Last year was a really disappointing one especially for Pillars and Enyimba who could not survive their preliminary round matches.
But the results posted by the two big clubs last weekend have inspired hope in the minds of Nigerian football fans. Most have since attributed the good outings to the January Super 4 which involved the four continental clubs and the National U-20 and U-23 teams.
Leaving the blocks quickly is one thing and lasting the distance is completely a different ball game. This is the thinking of most football analysts but the clubs are confident that their performances won’t be a flash in the pan.
When contacted, the technical advisers of Enyimba and Pillars said the momentum will be sustained because the journey is just starting. They said like a marathon race, it is the team that endures to the end that wins.
Coach Kadiri Ikhana of Enyimba said the new found rhythm in the club is based on the resolve by the ‘peoples elephants’  to excel and the benefits of the Super-4 Invitational tournament in Abuja.
 “We missed almost seven scoring chances in our CAF Champions League match last Sunday and this has to do with the players not finding their rhythm yet and I think that is the only problem we have.
 “It could be we are heading for the right direction again but financial constraints may be our undoing in the competition because from all indications it seems only Kano Pillars are having the financial muscle.
 “We have the materials to go through as well as good plans it is quite unfortunate we do not have the financial backing,
 “Enyimba will definitely do well just as I believe in the ability of the other clubs to rise to the occasion but we need the support of every one,” Ikhana explained.
Kano Pillars FC technical adviser, Okey Emordi on his part said it may be too early to start the celebration party because the competition is in its early stages.
Emordi who is optimistic that the Nigerian clubs will do better this year in the continental competitions said his optimism is based on the impressive performance of the country’s representatives last weekend.
“Let me be honest with you like I said in one of the post-match conferences during the pre-season tournament in Abuja, what the League Management Company and the NFF did for the teams is a big plus but maybe most of us did not take it serious.
“In the recent past the performance of our teams have always been a thing of concern to us all but with the way the tempo has been raised, I am confident we will do better this year.
“You know at this stage last year all our teams were already out of the race. But you will agree with me that a new song is on our lips for now though we have to celebrate with caution till we get to the crucial stage,” Emordi said.
Dolphins FC  secretary Malam Ahmed Abdurahman is of the view that the clubs have all is required to push for the continental diadem as the players and officials are in the right frame of mind to excel.
“Though we lost our first match, it is not over yet. We were just not lucky but we will definitely make amend in the return leg.
“Nigerians should not lose their sleep. We shall have a better result this year,” he said.
Warri Wolves reliable midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu said victory over RC Bobodioulasso has boosted the morale of his team mates. He said even before the victory in Burkina Faso, the team had resolved to go far in the competition.
“We have moved on from the victory and are hoping to consolidate when RC Bobodioulasso come to Warri for the return leg.
“It was not an easy one for us but even before our opening match, we told ourselves the truth. It was agreed that we can only go far in the competition if we win away matches.
“So our first away win is serious motivation. We shall build on it. We have the players who can make it happen,” he said.
Kano Pillars motivator, Rabiu Ali ‘Pele’ said having learnt from the disappointment of last season, nobody is ready to take anything for granted.
“We still remember what happened to us last season. We crashed out at the preliminary round and that was very embarrassing.
Our first away match ended in victory for us but we are not getting carried away. It is an inspiring win but we have since put that behind us.
“There is no need to over celebrate because we know that to go far in the competition, we must win home and away. So there is nothing so special about the win over Al-Malaika. We have the return leg in Kano and that is what we are presently looking at,” he said.