NPFL trio battle tricky North Africans for group stage tickets

The trio of Rivers United, Plateau United and Kwara United will be stepping on banana peels this weekend as they plot to finally end North Africa continent were sent packing from their respective competitions by North African oppositions. Esperance vs Plateau United The Jos club defeated Esperance 2-1 in the first leg of their CAF […]

The trio of Rivers United, Plateau United and Kwara United will be stepping on banana peels this weekend as they plot to finally end North Africa continent were sent packing from their respective competitions by North African oppositions.

Esperance vs Plateau United

The Jos club defeated Esperance 2-1 in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first-round tie at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Sunday and will look to solidify their win when the second leg takes place today at the Olympic Stadium in Rades 

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A goalless draw will be enough for Plateau United to scale through against the four-time champions. 

According to the Technical Adviser of the club, Fidelis Ilechukwu, Plateau United who departed Abuja for Tunisia on Wednesday, would play offensive football against their hosts.

Ilechukwu reckoned that beating the Tunisians in front of their fans will be a difficult task but insisted that his players will be up to the challenge.

“I am adopting an all-attacking formation in the return leg in order to qualify for the group stage which we have already set for ourselves long before now and we are committed to that objective,” the former Heartland gaffer told the club’s media. 

“It’s always a difficult task to play the North Africans in front of their fans but we won’t allow ourselves to be intimidated.” 

Sunday Anthony, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Tunisians is expected to partner with Ifeanyi Emmanuel and Mustapha Ibrahim to cause more damage. 

The Tunisians will be wary of left-back and stand-in captain Daniel Itodo who has been immense in all the games the ‘Peace Boys’ have played so far. His long throws have contributed to the goals scored by the team. 

Wydad Casablanca vs Rivers United 

Last weekend in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian league champions, Rivers United stunned Champions League defending Champions, Wydad Casablanca, in a comeback 2-1 victory. 

First-half and second-half goals from Malachi Ohawume and Paul Acquah, were enough to take the win after Bouly Sambou shocked the home fans with his goal in the 33rd minute.

Coach Stanley Eguma who led the team to Morocco on Thursday is aware of the tactics the North Africans will deploy and is ready to circumvent that scenario.

“They [Wydad] played a withdrawn game here on Sunday against us to avoid conceding many goals.

“They played with more defenders and midfielders and were banking on the counter to get a goal.

“We’re well aware of this strategy, but unfortunately our defenders momentarily lost concentration, allowing the Moroccans to score despite the goal coming from a seemingly offside position.

“It’s kudos to my players who did not allow that to unsettle them but instead responded instantly with the equaliser before the break.”

“It isn’t gonna be a tea party in Casablanca. It’s ‘no retreat, no surrender’.

“We are going to work and perfect our strategies that will counter theirs in Morocco,” he declared ahead of the game.

Barring any setbacks in the reverse fixture, The ‘Pride of Rivers’ will be through to the group stage of the Champions League. Victory over Wydad will fetch each player a whopping $40,000 from Governor Nyesom Wike.

RS Berkane vs Kwara United

Kwara United will take a two-goal lead to Morocco for the second leg after coming from a goal down to defeat Confederations Cup defending Champions, RS Berkane, 3-1 in a thrilling match at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. 

The ‘Afonja Warriors’ got to this stage after overcoming the spiritual warfare from the Nigerien top-flight, AS Douanes, who had hired herbalists who sprinkled blood on their players. 

Buoyed by that ugly incident, the team is determined to ensure they perform well in the competition as experienced goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, confident Kwara United will frustrate champions RS Berkane in Morocco.

“It is going to be a tough game for sure, but we won’t put too much pressure on ourselves and we will just play our game,” he said.

“When playing against the North Africans, you should not allow them to dictate the tempo of the game because once you allow them to do so, you are finished. We will not allow them to control the tempo and we will go hard on them one on one,” the former Super Eagles keeper said.

After the match in Lagos, Coach Azeez Audu Mohammed commended his boys for rising to the challenge despite the early scare. He expressed confidence that his team will make it to the Group stage.

The Moroccans are under pressure to turn the scores round against the ‘Harmony Boys’ with fans calling for the sack of the coach, Ben Chikha.

Chikha replaced DR Congo’s Florent Ibenge who left the club after winning the Confederation Cup last year and joined the Sudanese side Al Hilal.

RS Berkane under the new manager has lost three of their last game, two league matches and the game against Kwara United and will seek to end the ugly run today.

Kwara United will hope to better the record of Rivers United then known as Dolphin FC who were the losing finalists in 2005.

Rivers United and Plateau United will attempt to join two-time winners, Enyimba or at worst join Shooting Stars, Heartland FC and Enugu Rangers who ended as runner ups in 1994/1996; 1989/2009 and 1975 respectively.

Nigerians will no doubt be on cloud nine, if the trio will build on the first leg victories to restore the country’s lost glory in continental football.