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The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has accused Kano Pillars and Rivers United of lacking “steel” as both clubs prepare for the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round this weekend.
Despite their early lead, Kano fell 3-1 to ASC Jaraaf in Senegal while Rivers lost 2-1 to Futuro Kings in Equatorial Guinea.
Expectations are high from both sides as the 2021 African club season kicked off with Nigeria attempting to win the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League for the first time.
The closest to win the competition was the now-defunct Dolphins who reached the 2005 final only to be beaten 3-1 on aggregate by FAR Rabat of Morocco.
“Our clubs should be made of sterner stuff,” NFF president Pinnick told the Nigerian media.
“I am at a loss to understand how Pillars can take the lead in Senegal only to collapse and lose 3-1 against Jaraaf.
“I am so disappointed with Kano and Rivers. I expected much greater spirit and steel from these clubs when they represent Nigeria in Africa.
“My challenge to both teams is to win convincingly at home and qualify for the next round of the Confederation Cup.”
With a 1-0 win in Port Harcourt on away goals, Rivers will go through to the last-32.
Coach Stanley Eguma blamed poor finishing for the defeat in Mongomo, which would have been heavier but for an 88th-minute penalty converted by Godwin Aguda.
“There was no lack of effort from the boys, but the finishing was awful. We should have been three of four goals ahead by half-time instead of drawing.
“We must rectify this problem in the second leg, otherwise we will struggle to make the next qualifying round.”
Rivers have played in the Confederation Cup once before, reaching the 2017 group stage, while Futuro are debutants.
While Kano are another club debuting in the competition while Jaraaf have appeared five times, reaching the play-offs twice and making three preliminary round exits.
Pillars captain and midfielder Rabiu ‘Pele’ Ali believes they can overcome the two-goal deficit at home, where a 2-0 win would take the Nigerians through on the away goals.
“I realise our supporters are unhappy with the result in Senegal, but I beg them to be patient and keep having faith in us,” he said.
Only once before, in 2017, have both Nigerian clubs bowed out in the preliminary round with Wikki Tourists losing to Armed Forces of Sierra Leone and Ifeanyi Ubah to Al Masry of Egypt.
Olufemi Peters, a Professor of Chemistry, has emerged the newly elected Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria. This is according to a statement issued on Friday by NOUN […]
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