CAF Champions League-winning coach, Kadiri Ikhana, has urged Rivers United to overlook home crowd and play to their strength against USM Alger in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers.
Augustine Okejepha’s 10th-minute goal in the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday means the Pride of Rivers are taking a slim lead into the corresponding tie at the 80,200-capacity Stade du 5 Juillet, where the crowd plays the 12th player for the home team.
However, Ikhana, who guided Enyimba to the Champions League title in 2003, the first by a Nigerian club side, reckons Stanley Eguma’s team already has the upper hand and can secure a desirable result if they stick to their game plan, like they did in the first leg.“Rivers United already have the upper hand to scale through if every member of the playing team gets it right like they did in Uyo. They should play against the so-called home advantage with every strength in them, and I’m sure they can scale through the tight situation,” the 72-year-old, who last coached Kano Pillars.