CAF PlayOff: Plateau United Can Make Group Stage-Ilechukwu

CAF PlayOff: Plateau United Can Make Group Stage-Ilechukwu

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Fidelis Ilechukwu says his team is working hard to ensure they get to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Ilechukwu who lamented about Plateau United's exit from the CAF Champions League in the hands of four-time winners, Esperance of Tunisia in controversial circumstances, explained that his team have put the sad incident behind them as they look forward to a good outing against Al-Akhdar of Libya in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs coming up at the MKO Abiola, Abuja on Wednesday.

"We know the importance of this game and we also understand the reason why we did not make it to the group stage of the CAF Champions League. It was very painful, but we have put that behind us to enable us to face the future which is this game, Ilechukwu said.

The former Heartland Head Coach who underscores the importance of scoring many goals at home stated that the technical crew is working hard in every department of the team to get the much-needed goals, something they failed to do against Esperance which largely accounted for their exit in the CAF Champions League, to make the return leg in Tripoli, a mere formality.

He commended Governor Simon Lalong for his unflinching support to the team as well as management, under the leadership of Pius Henwan and Technical Director Coach Ahmed Ibrahim for prioritizing the welfare of the team.

Meantime, Plateau United's opponents in Wednesday's CAF Confederations Cup play-offs, Al-Akhdar of Libya have landed in Abuja ahead of the match. 

The 47-man contingent comprising players, coaches and other backroom staff, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours of Sunday with their food, water and a chef. 

The team is expected to have its work-out at the MKO Abiola Stadium on Tuesday, the same as Plateau United, as the authorities of the stadium restrict the use of the arena to only match days as a measure to preserve the playing surface at the stadium. 

Kickoff is 4 pm on Wednesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.