Osunwa: Merreikh capable of qualification
El Merreikh striker, Kelechi Osunwa, is looking forward to continue with his goal scoring form this season, as his side play host to Sony Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea in their Preliminary Round second leg clash on Saturday in Omdurman.
The Sudanese giants won the first leg away in Malabo Stadium 1-0 last Sunday courtesy a late winner by Nigeria-born Osunwa. It was the 30th goal for the 32-year old in the continental club championship, which places him in the league of the elites.
His tally consist of 10 goals during his days with Port Harcourt outfit, Dolphins, nine each for Sudanese bitterest rivals, Merreikh and El Hilal, and two for Ahly Shendy, whom he had a fruitful stint last season.
However, Zimbabwean Edward Sadomba has the record for most goals for a Sudanese club in the African Club Championships, 23 goals; one more than his Hilal teammate, Mudather El Taieb ‘Careca’. Osunwa is tied on 20 goals with Merreikh legend and former captain, Faisal Agab.
The Nigerian, who enjoyed a successful first spell with ‘Al-Zaeem’ between 2009 and 2013, is happy to have found the back of the net in his first continental match on his second stint.
“The return leg won’t be an easy match and we have to fight to go through. We are closer to the next round, but we have to be cautious and play whole-heartedly to achieve qualification. We are capable of winning, but we just need to respect the opponent (Sony Ela Nguema,” said Osunwa.
The striker emerged the top scorer of the Arab leagues and the continent at large, after netting 38 goals in all competitions for Ahly Shendy last season. It was a record in the history of Sudanese football as Osunwa took his goal tally to 161, which cuts across 11 seasons.
Osunwa has set sights on a place at the lucrative mini-league stage, which for the first time will feature 16 clubs, but understands they have to cross the Sony Ela Nguema hurdle first as he puts the team’s progress over personal glory.
“Becoming the top scorer of the championship is not the major goal compared to the progress of the team in the competition. If the chance to finish as top scorer or write a new chapter of history opens up, I will take it”, he added.
The winner of the Merreikh vs Sony Ela Nguema will face either AS Real (Mali) or Rivers United (Nigeria) at the 1/16th round.
Fixtures
Saturday, 18 February 2017
El Merreikh (Sudan) vs Sony Ela Nguema (Equatorial Guinea) (1-0)
AS FAN (Niger) vs AS Tanda (Cote d’Ivoire) (0-3)
FUS Rabat (Morocco) vs FC Johansen (Sierra Leone) (1-1)
APR (Rwanda) vs Zanaco (Zambia) (0-0)
Young Africans (Tanzania) vs Ngaga de Mde (Comoros) (5-1)
Township Rollers (Botswana) vs CNaps (Madagascar) (1-2)
Atlabara (South Sudan) vs Coton Sport (Cameroon) (0-2)
Bidvest (South Africa) vs Saint Louisienne (Reunion) (1-2)
Sunday, 19 February 2017
Diables Noirs (Congo) RC Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) (0-3)
Rivers United (Nigeria) vs AS Real (Mali) (0-0)
Horoya (Guinea) vs US Goree (Senegal) (0-0)
Ahly Tripoli (Libya) vs Wa All Stars (Ghana) (3-1)
Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) vs KCCA (Uganda) (0-1)
Vital’O (Burundi) vs CF Mounana (Gabon) (0-2)
Stade Malien (Mali) vs BYC (Liberia) (0-1)
Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique) vs Zimamoto (Zanzibar) (1-2)
Enugu Rangers (Nigeria) vs JS Saoura (Algeria) (1-1)
AS Vita (DR Congo) vs Royal Leopards (Swaziland (1-0)
Sewe Sport (Cote d’Ivoire) vs Ports Authority (Gambia) (0-1)
Caps United (Zimbabwe) vs Lioli (Lesotho) (0-0)
Saint George (Ethiopia) vs Cote D’Or (Seychelles) (2-0)
UMS de Loum (Cameroon) vs AC Leopards (Congo) (0-1)
Port Louis (Mauritius) vs Tusker (Kenya (1-1)