Leopards in tight spot
THE local media in Nigeria is convinced that their team, Warri Wolves, need only turn up to win their CAF Confederations Cup tie against Black Leopards.
“Warri Wolves Feast on Black Leopards” was the screaming headline of the Weekend Soccer newspaper here yesterday.
The reason for the undue confidence ahead of the first leg of the last 16 tie appears to be the fact that Wolves have won all four of their four matches in the competition thus far.
“It’s a great achievement for them, but that will be history after our game here in Nigeria,” said Leopards boss David Thidiela defiantly. “Records are there to be broken.”
The Limpopo side are also unbeaten in this tournament, having won two and drawn two of their four matches.
Leopards’ Nigerian winger Joshua Obaje also exuded confidence, predicting that the Limpopo side would prevail.
Having helped Nigeria’s Heartland reach the 2009 African Champions League final, Obaje has provided stand-in coach Sunday Chidzambwa with some valuable information about Wolves.
“I told the coach and the rest of the team that we have nothing to fear in Warri, their players are very physical and will use that to intimidate us,” he said. “Wolves have deadly attackers but their defence leaks when they are under siege. We need to shut the back door and not concede goals.”
He said Leopards had to play their usual game. “We have to play our normal attacking football and I have no doubt we will prevail.
“I believe we have a good chance of going all the way to the final. Our advantage is that nobody is giving us a chance.”
Gift Atulewa and Michael Okoyoh scored in Wolves ’ 2-0 win over Sierra Leone’s FC Kallon.
Moholoa is in Nigeria courtesy of MTN