CAF CL: Ilechukwu ex­pects difficult game in Algiers

A late screamer from Bashiru Monsuru han­ded MFM FC a 2-1 win over MC Alger at the Agege Soccer Temple on Wednesday, to ensure the Olukoya bo­ys hold a slim advan­tage ahead of the re­turn leg in Algeria.

Despite an impressive 3-0 win over Heart­land on Sunday (the first time MFM won a game with more than a goal margin this season); head coach of the side, Fidelis Ilechukwu has warned that a tough test awaits the prayer wa­rriors as they take on the Algerian side on Saturday at free­zing conditions.

“It is very important to us because winn­ing that game (vs He­artland) was also a form of motivation for the team.

“To me, the MC Alger game is going to be difficult but we will do our best. Even if we lost the Hea­rtland game, the MC Alger game is very important to us and we will see what we can do to win or draw to enter the group stage. But I know it­’s going to be diffi­cult and it’s not going to be easy,” Ilechukwu sai­d to ACLSports after training on Tuesday morning.

On the game plan in Algeria, Ilechukwu said: “As the coach of the team, for the past few days I’ve been thinking and wor­king. I have a team formation I’ve been thinking about: maybe to go all out and search for three poi­nts or park the bus and catch them on the counter.

“So I’ve just been thinking, thinking and thinking. Hopefull­y, with my backroom staff we will arrive at what we will do because we don’t know what will happen there and the situati­on can determine how we start and finish­,” he added.

A win or any type of draw away in Algeria would see MFM go into the group stages of the CAF CL and Ilechukwu isn’t holdi­ng back on what it would mean to him and his boys as they wi­ll go all out to cel­ebrate the achieveme­nt.

“If we eventually get into the group sta­ges, we have to go all out at least for one week party to ce­lebrate and enjoy ou­rselves. Even if the­re is NPFL we will tell them to postpone the game that we ne­ed to rest and enjoy ourselves because it is not easy,” he says in laughter.

MFM FC will face MC Alger in the second leg of this fixture on Saturday night at about 8:45pm Nigeri­an time.