Pillars, Enyimba, Wolves battle for survival

While reigning Nigerian champions Pillars battle visiting Moghreb Tetuoan of Morocco this afternoon at the Sani Abacha stadium Kano to upturn a 0-4 defeat in the first leg, two times African Champions Enyimba will confront Smouha in Egypt. The people’s elephants could only manage a slim 1-0 victory over their host in Aba in the […]

While reigning Nigerian champions Pillars battle visiting Moghreb Tetuoan of Morocco this afternoon at the Sani Abacha stadium Kano to upturn a 0-4 defeat in the first leg, two times African Champions Enyimba will confront Smouha in Egypt. The people’s elephants could only manage a slim 1-0 victory over their host in Aba in the first leg.
The only Nigerian club left in the Confederation Cup, Warri Wolves are also in Ethiopia to face Dedebit in the return leg of their first round match. Wolves are going into the match with a slim victory having won the first leg 2-0.
Pillars make or mar match will test the worth of the Nigerian champions whose best performance in the CAF Champions League came in 2010 when they played in the semi-finals against Heartland FC of Owerri.
Going by the result of the first leg which saw the host recording a massive 4-0 victory, it is not out of place to say Pillars are on the brink of another early exit from the prestigious competition.
Although they have won the domestic league three times in a row, the Sai Masu gida boys as Pillars are popularly called have failed to impress on the continent, thereby raising questions as to whether they deserve to be champions of Nigeria.
It will be recalled that in 2014, Pillars could not go beyond the preliminary round of the Champions League as they crashed out after losing to AS Vita of Congo 5-2 on aggregate.
Therefore, Pillars will this afternoon be all out to avoid another early elimination but they have a mountain to climb because scoring five goals without conceding any against a highly motivated side like Moghreb is not an easy task.
Pillars need to score goals to keep hope alive. Unfortunately, they are going to be without two of their most reliable strikers, Gambo Mohammed and Christian Obiozor who is presently fighting to leave the club.
It will be recalled that on March 5, Pillars were attacked by armed robbers on their way to Owerri to honour their first league match of the season against Heartland FC. Five key players of the club, Gambo Mohammed, Eneji Otekpa, Adamu Murtala, Reuben Ogbonnaya and Ubong Ekpai sustained different degrees of injuries in the ugly incident.
Even as the trio of Ogbonnaya, Adamu Murtala and Ubong Ekpai have since rejoined the team, two key players, Mohammed and Otekpa are still recovering.
Consequently, Pillars missed the services of these two important players in the first leg and would miss them again this afternoon as Pillars battle for life in front of their teeming supporters.
Some of the players who spoke to SHOT! expressed optimism that they would spare nothing to ensure Pillars remain the Champions League.
Benin Republic international, Loute Isaac said the first leg result made the return leg a very difficult task but Pillars will not go down without a fight.
“It is true we have a mountain before us to climb but we are not going to exit the competition at this stage.
“We have been discussing the result of the first leg and we have come to the conclusion that getting the result we need on Saturday is very possible.
“The task before us is indeed difficult but we are going to show the character of champions. We are the reigning champions of Nigeria and we have to justify our high rating,” he said.
Shagari Mohammed who was in the team that went to Morocco also said Pillars were unlucky to concede such number of goals in the first leg.
 “Although we did not play too badly, we were not lucky. One cannot rule out the element of luck in the game of football.
“We are aware of what is before us but are not giving up. The return leg is an opportunity for us to push for a place in the round of 16.
“Our opponents have advantage over us but we would give them a good fight. They should be ready to battle wounded lions in Kano,” he said.
Striker Adamu Hassan who said the team missed the services of his partner, Gambo Mohammed in the first leg is rearing to go.
“I can say I am fully ready for the match. It is a make or mar match and we all know what to do.
“We are condemned to fight till the final whistle and that is what will happen on Saturday”.
Pillars technical Adviser, Okey Emordi also shared in the optimism of his boys as he said “We are going to do our best to get the result that will keep us in the competition.
“It is not easy but the morale in our camp is still high. If we could lose 0-4 in Morocco, we can also score four or five goals in the return leg.
“One thing that has given me confidence is the attitude of the fans towards us when we returned. They accepted the result and have promised to stay by us.
“I see our fans coming out in their numbers to cheer us to victory on Saturday. Definitely, we are going to have the right atmosphere to take back our pound of flesh”.
As earlier stated, apart from Pillars, the other two Nigerian clubs left in the continent are hanging on the cliff. Enyimba who managed a 1-0 victory over Smouha face a herculean task tomorrow in Egypt.
To progress they have to avoid defeat or play at least a draw. However, judging by the morale in the team’s camp, this may be a daunting task.
Cash-strapped Confederation Cup campaigners, Warri Wolves will this afternoon meet Dedebit of Ethiopia in what promises to be a difficult match for the visitors. Stories emanating from Wolves camp do not inspire any confidence.
However, Lordson Ichull said there is still hope for Wolves. “I am surprise that people are expressing doubts as to our ability to win in Ethiopia. We are going there for victory.
“Although we did not score many goals in the first leg, we won and that has given us advantage over our opponents.
“It is true we have some challenges but these are internal issues which we have tried to keep within us. So it is not something that will stop us from giving our best in Ethiopia”.
Wolves won the first leg of the first round match 2-0 courtesy of goals from Oghenekaro Etebo and Gbolahan Salami.