Sunshine Seek Redemption At Etoile

Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars plan to revive their CAF Champions League hopes at Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel tomorrow after an opening day loss.

The Nigerian club were outclassed by defending champions Esperance of Tunisia 2-0 right in front of their fans in Ijebu-Ode a fortnight ago to open their Group A campaign on a losing note.

Last year in the CAF Confederation Cup, the Akure team also fell at home to another Tunisian team Club Africain in the semi-finals.

They lost 1-0 at home before they recorded a face-saving goalless draw in Tunis behind closed doors.

Sunshine are therefore yet to win against Tunisian opposition, meaning they will be hard pressed on the trip to Sousse this weekend.

However, they are undaunted by the task ahead of them.

Star winger Ajani Ibrahim told MTNFootball.com that they will play the game of their lives in Tunisia because the result will go a long way to determine how far they will go in Africa’s foremost club competition.

“This game is going to be tough no doubt, but we are going there to play the game of our lives,” he vowed.

“We will approach the game as a cup final because this game is very important to us as it will have a big impact on our position in the group, we are up to the task.”

Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper Moses Ocheje pulled off several saves against the rampant Esperance on the first match day.

He said his team will fight for a result on the road.

“We know how important this game is to our ambition to remain in this competition and so we will give our best against Etoile to get at least a point,” he said.

Latest addition to the squad John Owoeri did not make the trip to Tunisia and as such the experienced winger’s Champions League debut for Sunshine will have to wait.

Cameroonian central midfielder Mendrano Tamen has also been ruled out due to a hamstring injury he picked up against Esperance.

CAF Champions league winners in 2007, Etoile du Sahel, are second behind local rivals Esperance in Group A of the Champions League after they won 1-0 at Aso Chlef of Algeria two weeks ago. They are currently fifth on the Tunisian league table on 38 points after 24 matches, a massive 17 points behind leaders Esperance.