Wolves, Bayelsa United in final push

While Warri Wolves beset by tales of woes have travelled to Tunisia to take on C.A Bizertin in the return leg. The North Africans forced their host to a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Bayelsa United who lost 1-2 away to How Mine FC of Zimbabawe are at home in Sapele to see how […]

While Warri Wolves beset by tales of woes have travelled to Tunisia to take on C.A Bizertin in the return leg. The North Africans forced their host to a 0-0 draw in the first leg. Bayelsa United who lost 1-2 away to How Mine FC of Zimbabawe are at home in Sapele to see how they will upturn the away defeat.
These matches are of interest to Nigerians who are still lamenting the dismal outings of Kano Pillars and Enyimba in the Champions League.
It is now an open secret that the performance of Kano Pillars and former African champions, Enyimba FC left much to be desired. While Pillars crashed out in the preliminary round of the qualifiers against AS Vita of Congo DR, Enyimba who managed to scale the hurdle of Togolese side Anges De Notse  did not go beyond the first round of qualifiers.
Consequently, immediately after the fall of the two clubs, attention of most Nigerian football fans shifted to the CAF Confederation Cup campaigners who did not enjoy serious mention before the exit of the ‘Nigerian super powers’.
To get to the second round, Bayelsa United eliminated Kondzo of Congo DR 2-0 on aggregate just as Warri Wolves edged out Union Douala of Cameroon 4-3 on aggregate.
This weekend’s ties are make or mar matches for Wolves and Bayelsa United because it is the final hurdle they must surmount to reach the group stage.
Warri Wolves will have to do something extra to survive the battle of Tunis because the 0-0 draw at home last weekend has placed them in serious quagmire. Unfortunately, the Nigerian team is so dispirited that nobody can say for sure what would happen in Tunisia. As it is common with Nigerian clubs, there are financial hiccups which have forced the team to travel with only 16 players and two coaches.
The Wolves of Warri are not sure of achieving a positive result over CA Bizertin. Unpaid salaries and winning bonuses have combined to keep the morale of the players at its lowest ebb.
To make matters worse, Wolves will be without prolific goal scorer Oghenekaro Etebo is said to be attending trials in Italy.
The other team, Bayelsa United will go into this weekend’s tie against visiting How Mine FC with a glimmer of hope having scored a vital away goal in the first leg. If not for the last minute penalty awarded against the Bayelsa State team on d dot of normal time, the Nigerian representatives would have returned home with an even more inspiring result.
The tasks before the two clubs that are carrying the hopes of the nation are enormous but if they will scale the hurdles before them this weekend, Wolves and Bayelsa United would have succeeded in salvaging what is left of Nigeria’s image after the fall of Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC in the CAF Champions League.