Plateau United goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye insists a change of venue from
their Jos base to the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano would stop the
Nigerian representatives from securing a favourable result in their CAF
Champions League first round, second leg fixture against Tunisian club
Etoile du Sahel on Sunday.
The Nigerian champions who lost the first leg 4-2 at the Olympic
Stadium, Sousse last Wednesday will host the Tunisians in Kano after
the Confederation of African Football stopped them from using their home
ground, New Jos Stadium due to the non-completion of the venue.
Ajiboye who is expected to start the game following injury to
Okiemute Odah is however upbeat they will conquer the North Africans and
secure their passage into the money-spinning group stage of the
competition.
“It’s no big deal for us playing in Kano as we are used to playing
in the stadium and we believe the fans will come out in large numbers to
support us,” Ajiboye told CSN.
“I just feel for some of our fans who might not be able to travel to
Kano to see us in action but we will do our best to make them proud.
“We have a tough job ahead of us as Etoile du Sahel are one of the
best teams in the continent, but the two goals we scored in the first
leg is a big bonus for us.
“Kano is home away from home for us and we hope to make it to the group stage at the end of the day.”
Qualification to the group stage will guarantee the NPFL champions $550,000 from CAF .
Nigeria’s other representative in the competition, MFM FC will take
on MC Alger on Saturday at the July 5 Stadium,Algiers. The Olukoya Boys
won the first leg 2-1.
No Nigerian club has won the CAF Champions League since Enyimba in 2004.