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By Abiodun Adewale
Nigeria’s representatives in this season’s CAF Champions League, Enyimba and Remo Stars are plotting their comebacks ahead of the second legs following defeats in their respective first leg matches on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
League champions Enyimba were beaten 4-3 at the death in a thrilling encounter against Al Ahly Benghazi in Libya, while Remo were beaten 1-0 by Ghana Premier League champions Medeama Sports Club in Cape Coast.
Remo and Enyimba returned to the country on Monday and Tuesday respectively to begin preparations for the return leg on Sunday.
Reflecting on their defeat in Ghana, Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmomdede, said his team would bounce back.
“Great fight from the team in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round in Ghana. We will strive harder to get the job done in Nigeria,” Ogunmodede said.
Similarly, Enyimba striker Victor Mbaoma is optimistic he and his teammates would do enough to emerge winners and qualify to the next round in the second leg.
“We are not satisfied but we need to be happy with ourselves and look forward to the next leg. They have played and won at home, now it’s time for us to go home and play with our fans and show them what we too can do.”
The striker also rued missed chances for their loss and admitted Al Ahly fans made the atmosphere unconducive for them.
“North Africa is a tough region and in matches like this their fans make the atmosphere very intimidating, but we stuck to our game plan and who knows, might have won outrightly had we converted most of our chances.”
Having lost the first legs by a goal margin each, Enyimba and Remo must win the second leg by at least two-goal margin to be sure of progressing into the next round.
Unlike the previous seasons when teams dropped from the CAF Champions League to the Confederation Cup, there will be no place in the second tier competition for teams eliminated from the Champions League.