CAFCC: Plateau United, Enyimba, Akwa United, MFM Hunt For Group Phase Tickets

Four Nigerian clubs Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United and Enyimba will look to secure places in the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup with the decisive play-off round, second leg fixtures set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nigeria Professional Football League champions Plateau United will set the ball rolling when they take on Algeria’s USM Alger on Tuesday at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers.

The Jos club hold a slender 2-1 advantage going into the game and know they face an uphill task in their bid to make it to the group stages of the competition for the first time.

Coach Kennedy Boboye will hope his misfiring forwards who have struggled in their last two games on the continent will put on their scoring boots in this decisive fixture.

Reliable forward Joshua Obaje who missed the first leg due to injury is back on his feet again and should complement the likes of King Osanga, Tosin Omoyele, Raphael Ayagwa and Sunday Ingbede upfront.

Boboye will also need to work on his team’s defence which struggled to cope with the pace and aerial threats of the Algerians in the first leg at the Agege Stadium, Lagos last week.

Two-time time African champions Enyimba appear to have the easiest task of all the four clubs having held South Africa’s Bidvest Wits to a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

The Peoples Elephant will host the Clever Boys at their makeshift home ground, UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Wednesday and a goalless draw should see them progress to the group stage for the first time.

Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is back in training after picking a minor injury in the club’s league game against Kwara United last week and is in contention to challenge Ghanaian Fatau Dauda for the number one spot

Enyimba sure have enough quality in their ranks and should see this through.

Aiteo Federation Cup kings Akwa United however have a tough task on their hands as they look to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Al Hilal of Sudan.

The Promise Keepers have managed to score one goal in each of their three CAF Confederation Cup games played at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

To stay in the competition, they will need to score three without conceding.

Coach Abdu Maikaba will bank on the likes of Victor Mbaoma, Adeshina Gata, Christian Pyagbara and Friday Ubong to deliver the goods for his team.

Also, MFM who were completely outplayed by Mali’s Djoliba in the first leg, must overcome a 1-0 home defeat when they take on same opponents at the Stade Modibo Keita Stadium, Bamako.

FULL FIXTURES

Tuesday, April 17
USM Alger vs Plateau United

Wednesday, April 18
Enyimba vs Bidvest Wits
Akwa United vs Al Hilal
Djoliba vs MFM FC