It’s Confederation Cup title or nothing, says Nasarawa United boss

Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Barrister Isaac Danladi has told thenff.com that his players have garnered enough confidence from holding their own against AS Academie Generation Foot in Dakar on Saturday to start thinking of going all the way in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

“Perhaps, it is too early to start talking about winning the title, but I can tell you that we have learnt a lot on how to hold our own on the road and we will now take every match as it comes,” Danladi said after his boys played a 0-0 draw with the Senegalese team to win 2-1 on aggregate and qualify for the second round of the competition.

After a narrow 2-1 win in Abuja in the first leg, many were those who thought the Solid Miners had come to the end of the road, particularly with the brilliant display of the visitors. But on Saturday, Nasarawa United proved too strong for the Senegalese, and will now play Constantinois of Algeria in the second round, with the first leg in Abuja on March 13.

“We will keep our heads at the level and approach it one match at a time. Our objective will always be to earn a good result from every game,” Danladi added.

He praised the efforts of officials of the Embassy of Nigeria in Dakar: “They were very supportive and even mobilized the Nigerian community in Dakar to come and support us during the match.”

However, Nigeria’s second representatives, Akwa United FC were shockingly ousted from the competition, after falling 1-0 to visiting Vita Club Mokanda of Congo in Uyo on Saturday.

The Akwa boys had won the first leg 1-0 in Pointe Noir only to come unstuck before their own fans. They also failed to rise to the occasion in the penalty shoot-out that ensued, losing 5-6 to the visiting team.

Warri Wolves are through to the second round of the CAF Champions League following the withdrawal of Sporting Praia Cruz of Sao Tome and Principe.