Wolves will reach playoffs says Aigbogun

Warri Wolves head coach, Paul Aigbogun, has called on Nigerians not to lose sleep over his side’s chances of reaching the playoffs of this year’s Caf Confederation Cup.

Wolves, the only Nigerian side still in the running for continental success this year, beat Congo DR club, Football Club MK Étanchéité 2-1 in the first leg of their first round clash at the Warri City Stadium on Saturday.

Gbolahan Salami scored both goals for the Nigerian club but they were pegged back when the visitors hit back via a set piece 15 minutes from the end.

Aigbogun insists Wolves can also score in the return fixture at Stade Tata Raphaël, Kinshasa on May 1.

“We were unfortunate (on Saturday) because we were the better team and should have scored more (than two goals). I am confident that we will score at their place and that will be it,” the confident trainer told supersport.com.

He also stated that the absence of several key playing personnel cost his side dear against the central Africans.

“Abu Azeez and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu were not available because they were with the Nigerian beach soccer team while our captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe has still not recovered from the injury he picked up in the international friendly between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana last month.

“Michael Egbeta did not play too because he was suspended having picked up two yellow cards in our previous matches. These are extremely important players and their absence really affected us,” he said.

He concluded by outlining the strengths of the opposition while expressing confidence that plans will be made to nullify anticipated threats in the return fixture.

“They are a good team with very tall players. That was one of the reasons they scored against us.

“The goal they scored was from a corner and their players used that to their advantage but we have seen our mistakes and will correct them before the second leg.

“Things will be different because we now know how to approach the second leg,” he said.

The omens do not bode well for Wolves. Football Club MK Étanchéité beat Sudanese club, Al-Ahly Shendi 5-1 in the second leg of their first round clash at Stade Tata Raphaël, Kinshasa after losing the first leg 1-2 in Shendi.