MFM coach backs his side to advance against MC Alger

Thursday Mar 08, 2018. 16:30

MFM coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has backed his team to advance against MC Alger in the CAF Champions League.

The Nigerian club on Wednesday claimed a 2-1 home win in the first leg of the teams’ knockout tie, with Chijioke Akuneto and Monsuru Bashiru scoring either side of what could prove to be a crucial away goal for MCA’s Abdul-Aziz Amma.

The North Africans are slight favourites to turn the tie in their favour when the teams meet for the return match in Algiers next Saturday, but Ilechukwu believes his side can spring a surprise.

“I know that it is going to be difficult in Algiers, but in football everything is possible. We have everything to qualify in Algeria,” he is quoted by Vanguard.

“They are a tactical side and we have advantage as well. In Algiers, two things will happen, MFM will go all out against them for a win or we lose and come back here preparing again.

“We have the advantage of sun here but we failed to use it. I think if I as a coach had the advantage I will use it.”

Ilechukwu added that his team is still a work in progress: “I have read a lot of reports in the media about me castigating the team. That is true.

“When I have the team that I am satisfied with, I will tell the media.

“I need to work on the midfield because our opponents today played a 3-5-2 formation and played on the counter.”