Sunshine Petition Against Al Ahly

It may not be the end of the road for Sunshine Stars of Akure in this year’s CAF Champions League as the Nigerian club side have decided to lodge a petition against Al Ahly of Egypt following their ouster from the lucrative competition yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.

Ahly beat Sunshine 1-0 in the return leg of the semi final match and qualified for the final of the Champions League on 4-3 aggregate after they had held Sunshine to a draw in Ijebu Ode a fortnight ago.

Speaking on Brila FM early today, Executive Director of Ondo State Sports Agency, Mike Idoko disclosed that his team would file a petition to the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, against Ahly for their failure to keep to CAF’s rule that the match should be played behind closed doors.

Idoko claimed his team were delayed by the Egyptian fans who were protesting the delay in the commencement of their league, adding that over three thousand supporters of Al Ahly watched the match in the stands against CAF rule.

He said: “We are going to petition Al Ahly for failing to adhere to CAF rule that the match should be played behind closed doors as we have footage of the match in our possession where over three thousand of their supporters were allowed to watch the match inside the stadium.”

Meanwhile, Sunshine Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote says the clash between Al Ahly Ultras and players of rival clubs destabilised his team.

Blaming the three-hour long drama, Ogunbote fumed: “How can you have a mind to play a match like this when you are threatened? That is barbaric and I am waiting to see what CAF will do.”

To underline his point, Ogunbote pointed to defender Jude Ebitogwa’s lifeless display at centre-half.

“I played Godfrey Oboabona at right-back because I was of the mind that we would have a stronger defence.

“But one of my central defenders was shaking after the incident and I want to ascribe his bad performance today to what happened.”

—Bamidele Olowosagba