Caf Confederation Cup Group C Preview: Djoliba begin quest for overdue success

Femi Badmus

Caf Confederation Cup Group C Preview: Djoliba begin quest for overdue success image

Enyimba and Djoliba lock horns on Sunday as both fancy their chances to go deep in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The clash billed for the UJ Esuene Stadium provides the Malians a chance to stun the People’s Elephant like they did to MFM in the play-off round.

To many football enthusiasts, the lack of silverware in Africa since their inception remains a mystery despite boasting some of the greatest African players who later represented Mali.

No doubt they have significantly underachieved in both the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup, they would be hoping to rewrite their history when they take of Paul Aigbogun’s side.

Going into this encounter, the 2016 Malian Premiere Division third-place team boast of a very impressive away record in this competition – winning all their games at MFM and APR Rwanda.

For Enyimba, they come into this tie brimming with confidence having edged Bidvest Wits on away goal rule – and with the Nigerians boasting of great players, anything short of victory will be unacceptable.

Result of this encounter might prove to be the decider as the group pans out. While losing the first fixture is not always fatal, the team coming out second best will be playing catch-up owing to the quality oppositions in Group D.

 As a result, defeat is not an option for either side at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Sunday.

In the other Group C game, Cote d’Ivoire’s Williamsville AC and DR Congo’s CARA Brazzaville square up at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan.

Williamsville AC, 2016–17 Côte d'Ivoire Ligue 1 runners-up failed to sparkle in the Caf Champions League and found themselves in the 2nd tier where they dismissed Deportivo Niefang 3-2 after two legs.

They would be bidding for a place in the quarter-final but must first negotiate their way past the Congolese who have been solid in this competition.

CARA Brazzaville may not be stocked with the wealth of talent they enjoyed in the 1970s and at the turn of the century, but coach Roger Elli Ociate will still be confident of taking the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat giants into the knockout phase at the very least.

 

Femi Badmus