For the 13th season on the trot, Nigerian clubs have failed to lift the CAF Champions League despite having two participants every year in the elite competition. On many occasions, our domestic league clubs have flattered to deceive with most of them failing to qualify for the money spinning group stage of the tournament.
The last Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League was Enyimba. The Flying Antelopes lifted the trophy back to back in 2004 and 2005.
The 2018 representatives of the country in the competition; MFM FC and Plateau United at the beginning looked like they were determined to end the long wait of Nigerian football aficionados but any such ambition was punctured prematurely.
How the same Plateau Utd and MFM that were by miles the best and runners up in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) could not make it to the group stage of the Champions League remains a mystery to many.
While Plateau Utd lost to Etoile du Sahel, MFM crashed out to USM Alger.
Between the duo, MFM was the most disappointing, losing 2-7 on aggregate to Algerian club USM Alger while Plateau were edged 3-4 on aggregate.
Though the Nigerian representatives lacked requisite experience when compared to USM Alger and Etoile du Sahel who are perennial campaigners in CAF competitions, I however believed our clubs may have secured group stage qualification if they had approached their matches better.
While Plateau Utd made the right signings and could be said to have a bigger squad, MFM failed to shore up their squad with major signings but restricted themselves to rookie players. Again, I find it difficult to understand the reason their most impact and experienced player, Sikiru Olatunbosun was not registered for continental football.
Another area where I believed the team erred was the decision to play the first leg 4pm in Lagos, when they could have scheduled it for 1pm when the sun will be scorching as the Tunisians are likely to struggle under such condition. Instead of the slim 2-1 win at the Agege Township Stadium, MFM may have won the match with a wider margin if they played the first leg under intense sun. With a wider margin victory in Lagos, it would have been difficult, if not impossible for USM to overturn the deficit in Algiers. However, the management of MFM failed to realise no team do well in CAF competitions without antics.
To make the matter worse, MFM failed to travel early to Algeria for proper acclimatisation and as if that was not enough, Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made three changes to his starting line-up from the first leg. The trio of Onuwa Chukwuka, Emiloju Julius and Abayomi Lawal were sacrificed in the defensive midfield, left-back and attack for Ubakama Peter, Zikiye Jonathan and Joshua Abah.
As for Plateau Utd, it was always going to be a herculean task after the team conceded four goals away from home in the first leg. However, Kennedy Boboye’s boys showed courage and character to have scored two goals in Tunisia.
Ordinarily, one would have expected Plateau to overturn the defeat in the return leg but any such plan became tricky after the team was ordered to play the second leg at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano as their Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos was deemed by CAF not qualified to host such match.
Etoile played a smart one on the Nigerian side but the Plateau State Government should be blamed for not upgrading their facility despite being aware since last year their team will partake in CAF Champions League. That aside, Etoile should be credited for their compact defence which restricted the goal scoring chances of their hosts. Aside the 10th minute effort of Peter Eneji which hit the woodwork and Tosin Omoyele’s goal in the 20th minute from close range, chances was far in between for Plateau Utd. Etoile from their long scary passes tactics and quick wingers, almost cancelled out the deficit but for the agility of Dele Ajiboye in goal for the Nigerian side. With another goal on the day, Plateau Utd would have qualified on away goals but that was not to be.
Now that the two sides have dropped down to the less fancied CAF Confederations Cup, they need not brood over their failure in the Champions League but should rather atone for the disappointment by ensuring they go all the way. Winning the Confederation Cup will more than ever make up for their ill-fated exit from the Champions League.
Both Plateau Utd and MFM can borrow a leaf from Chelsea as the Premiership club, five seasons ago dropped down from the UEFA Champions League to win the UEFA Cup (Europa Cup).
