28th March, 2014
Nigeria’s Bayelsa United team have vowed to end the CAF Confederation Cup run of Zimbabweans How Mine this weekend.
The clubs clash in Sapele, in Delta State Saturday 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.
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 told the Zimbabwean media.
“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.
CAF Confederation Cup second round, second leg fixtures this weekend (aggregate score in brackets):
SuperSport Utd (RSA) v Etoile Sahel (TUN) (0-1)
Difaa El-Jadida (MAR) v AS Kigali (RWA) (0-1)
Zesco Utd (ZAM) v Medeama (GHA) (0-2)
Bayelsa Utd (NGR) v How Mine (ZIM) (1-2)
ASEC Mimosas (CIV) v CS Constantine (ALG) (0-1)
Petro Atletico (ANG) v Ismaily (EGY) (0-0)
Djoliba (MLI) v Wadi Degla (EGY) (0-2)
CA Bizertin (TUN) v Warri Wolves (NGR) (0-0)
Note: overall winners qualify for play-offs against CAF Champions League second round losers