As the ‘Agagu Boys’ return to their
club, Nigerians in diaspora and soccer fans cannot but notice and give kudos to
them for their great exploits outside the shores of the land. Though Sunshine
Stars’ dream of lifting the trophy of the CAF Champions league has ended,
positives can still be drawn from their situation. Their loss to Al-Ahly of
Egypt by a lone goal in Cairo effectively ended their dreams of continental
glory.
Amid protest and violence in Cairo,
Sunshine Stars of Akure have given a good account of itself in the competition
and deserves praises from Nigerians. They performed beyond the expectations of
sport fans and managed to achieve more than is expected of a team making its
debut in continental soil.
The Nigerian Premier League’s (NPL)
2010/2011 runners-up were the surprise package of the 2012 CAF Champions League
competition and they got to the semi-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup
last year also. Their exit has created a gap for a continuous continental show
of glory as they failed to secure their future in the competition by emerging
as fifth in the Nigerian Premier League’s 2011/2012 season and also cheated
them out of a chance to pocket $1.5 million plus a place at the 2012 Club
World Cup in Japan.
Despite their little experience
about the competition, they have been able to force recognition and
commendations from all by reaching the semi-finals on two consecutive
occasions, in variably faring better than their otherwise more qualified
counterparts in the game.
Sunshine Stars were bundled out of
Africa’s elite clubs competition and thereby confirmed the Makurdi-based side’s
ticket for the CAF Confederation Cup campaign next year.
Lobi Stars finished third on the
domestic league log behind champions, Kano Pilllars and Enugu Rangers and had
lived anxiously waiting to know the fate of the Akure Gunners on the continent.
This is due to the continental body’s provision that allows Cup holders to
defend their title and had Sunshine Stars won that would have knocked out Lobi
Stars from Africa’s duty next year.
There is no gain saying that the
Agagu boys will return to the continental stage in years to come with a wealth
of experience and confidence garnered from this encounter and it won’t come as
a surprise when they move on to lift the CAF Champions League trophy in the
process.
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