Nigeria: CAF Cups – Kaduna Utd Head for Tunisia as Enyimba, Sunshine Await Opponents

Daily Independent (Lagos)

4 April 2011

Despite the advance draws made for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cups, Enyimba Football Club and Sunshine FC are yet to know their next opponents, no thanks to the wars now raging in Libya and Cote d’ivoire.

After overcoming the stiff challenge of Union Sportive De Bitam of Gabon in the CAF Champions League, Enyimba was billed to face the winner of the encounter between JCA Treichville of Cote d’ivoire and Al Ittihad of Libya.

Whereas JCA defeated AS Fan of Niger 3-0 aggregate to get to the next round, Ittihad drew bye. Due to the war situation in the two countries and according to CAF regulations, both clubs were billed to play a one off in Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako last Saturday, but the match failed to hold.

CAF will now have to take a look at the peculiar situation and give a ruling given a deadline and there are indications that the Nigerian Champion is most likely to benefit a free ride to the next round.

Sunshine Stars of Akure is also faced with a similar situation, where its opponent was expected to emerge from a match last week end in Accra, Ghana between Africa Sports of Cote d’ivoire and USFA of Burkina Faso.

In an earlier round, USFA eliminated Fovou Baham of Cameroun 4-3, while Africa Sports edged out FS Sequence of Guinea 2-1. It won away 1-0, only for the Guineans to hold them to a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.

Going by recent developments, Sunshine is likely to face the Burkinabes as the Ivoriens may not be able to overcome its strife in time to get a team ready for the match.

The only certainty in the triumvirate is the encounter between Kaduna United and ESS of Tunisia.

The Tunisians like Kaduna United, drew bye in the first round, but last weekend eliminated Ashanti Gold of Ghana, 4-2 aggregate.

ESS won the first leg 3-0 at home and lost 1-2 last Saturday in Kumasi.

Going by the history of the Tunisians in Africa clubs competitions, there is need for Kaduna United to gird its loins. Tunisian clubs won the Confederation Cup in 2006 and 2007 and posted two clubs in the final in 2008.

Incidentally the remaining three Nigerian clubs are playing their first leg matches at home on the weekend of April 22,23 and 24.

Meanwhile, Sunshine coach Gbenga Ogunbote is not surprised for winning the away tie against Tiko United 1-0. Sunshine won the first leg 2-0, qualifying 3-0 aggregate.

Dele Olorundare’s long range whizzer in the second half, gave Sunshine the lone goal victory.

“We are happy to have qualified but it is not a surprise because I always knew my team was better than Tiko United. We missed several chances but we came to Cameroon to win and we have done so.”

Despite seeing the match venue changed to Bepanda’s Reunification Stadium on their arrival, Sunshine Stars dominated proceedings but could have been one down early on, but for goalkeeper Moses Ocheje.

“Our objective is to win the Confederations Cup. We have a very good team and players who want to win, and I am confident that we can do it.”

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