SAPELE — HOW Mine got a taste of the true jungles of African football on Thursday in Lagos, Nigeria when they arrived to no officials from either their hosts, Bayelsa United or the Nigerian Football Association — a clear bid to frustrate the Zimbabweans.
The two teams are expected to clash today at the Sapele Stadium in the second round, second leg of the Caf Confederation Cup with How Mine leading 2-1 from last weekend’s match played at Barbourfields.
At least, even before departure, How Mine officials, had conceded that this was the kind of reception they were expecting from their counterparts. They spent three hours at the airport as has become the norm in West and North Africa. And in all these cases, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has never taken action against the offenders.
Instead, at one stage, South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs had to pull out of the Champions League a decade ago after being slapped with a three-year ban for refusing to travel to the then war torn Madagascar, whose main airport had been taken by the army.
Simply put, Caf has no love for Southern African teams and the draw has always favoured teams from the West and North who always stage their second legs at home — an issue that How Mine coach Philani Ncube also raised last week.
The match venue is 400km away from where How Mine landed and they had to spend a night in Lagos, losing a day’s training.
The clubs clash in south-eastern city Sapele today with the hosts promising to “thrash” the visitors and secure a play-offs spot.
How Mine came from behind last weekend to win the first leg of the last-16 tie 2-1 with Menard Mupera snatching a stoppage-time winner from a spot-kick.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
It was a disappointing climax for the Nigerians, who took an early second half lead through Bernard Okorowanta only for Morris Kadzola to level on the hour in Bulawayo.
But 2009 semi-finalists Bayelsa remain favourites to advance with a 1-0 home win sufficient under the away-goal rule.
“Bayelsa will thrash How Mine,” coach Richard Bubagha told SuperSport.com. “We know their strengths and weaknesses and are working on them.”
A strength of the gold miners is striker Kudakwashe Musharu, leading scorer with six goals in the second-tier African cup competition this season. But after netting in the four previous Caf matches, he was shackled by Bayelsa and failed to increase his tally.
Musharu acknowledges his key role in Nigeria, saying he must get back on the goal trail if the Zimbabweans are to survive.
“Scoring an away goal is critical if we are to win the tie,” the 27-year-old marksman said.
“The first priority is to contain Bayelsa for 30 minutes and then snatch a goal to unsettle them.
“I scored a vital away goal in the previous round in the Seychelles and believe I can repeat the feat in Nigeria.”
While it would be a shock if Bayelsa failed to make the play-offs against the Caf Champions League last-16 losers, fellow Nigerians Warri Wolves are facing elimination.
A goalless home draw with 2013 semi-finalists CA Bizertin has put them on the back foot as Tunisian clubs seldom slip up at home.
Tradition is also against the Wolves with previous Confederation Cup appearances in 2010 and 2012 ending in last-16 exits.
Tunisians Etoile Sahel, winners in 2006 and runners-up two years later, take a 1-0 lead over SuperSport United to South Africa.
Although Egypt are the dominant force in African club football, they have yet to produce a Confederation Cup title-holder.
Debutants Wadi Degla meet vastly experienced Djoliba in Mali holding a 2-0 advantage while 1969 African champions Ismaily play Petro Atletico in Angola after a goalless first leg.
Another former African champion, Ivorians ASEC Mimosas, have to overcome a 1-0 deficit at home to Algerians CS Constantine.
Moroccans Difaa El-Jadida are in an identical situation against Rwandan visitors AS Kigali, whose home-leg winner came from Jean-Paul Niyonzima.
Zambians Zesco United enjoy home advantage against Ghanaians Medeama in central copper city Ndola, but are two goals in arrears. — Sports Reporter/Supersport
