18th October, 2012
Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars will be without Number 1 goalkeeper Moses Ocheje for Sunday’s CAF Champions League semi-final at Ahly.
Ocheje, who was forced to man the post in the first leg, which ended 3-3, could not regain fitness after he took ill and was hospitalised for three days after the game in Ijebu-Ode.
The goalkeeper in sad mood told MTNFootball.com that he is disappointed he will miss the trip, but said his deputy, Henry Ayodele, will do the job for the Akure club in his absence.
“I won’t play the second leg in Cairo. I am not fit yet. I have not trained since the first leg because of the illness. I told my mates to believe in themselves, without me they can do it. I will be with them in spirit and I know they can do it,” Ocheje said.
Ocheje said he has given Ayodele the needed confidence to stop Ahly in Cairo on Sunday.
“I have been talking to Henry since I knew I won’t make it. I told him to believe in himself, approach the game the way he did for the games he played and make sure he controls his defence line by talking to them. He can do it,” he said. The team are scheduled to depart for Cairo today ahead of the Sunday clash.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper’s coach of the team, Segun Oguns is emphatic his side will defeat Al Ahly on Sunday
Oguns said his wards are more prepared for the second fixture battle than they were in the first fixture in Ijebu-Ode.
“Tell Nigerians we’ll win in Cairo, Egypt against Al Ahly and advance to the final.
“The players have given their best in preparations heading to the weekend clash.
“We’ve been in closed camp for the past 10 days, that explains the measure of seriousness we attached to the game, we’re focused and ready.
“The 3-3 first leg result doesn’t pose any problem for us. We’ll play 11-11, no more or less.
“We’ve always taken every game as home game; this one won’t be an exception.
“We’re not under pressure rather the pressure is on Al Ahly. We’re more ready than we were in the first leg.
“No distraction compared with the wage strike during the first leg, we had more time to train together and the players are psychologically ready and rearing to go,” the former Nigerian goalkeeper told supersport.com.