Gombe in search of 6 goals

By Ganiyu Salman - 06.04.2008

Nigeria's representative in the CAF Champions League, Gombe United, has a tough task to qualify today for the next stage of the competition by scoring six unreplied goals against Cotton Sport of Garuwa.

The Camerounians were ruthless in the first leg having scored five goals past a hapless side which is featuring in the continental championship for the first time.

Gombe had faced a similar situation in the first round but cancelled the two goals deficit against Motema Pembe of Congo DR before it triumphed on penalties to advance.

Perhaps, it is going to be a herculean task today in Gombe as the Danjuma Goje Boys will be under intense pressure to cancel the goals’ deficit and, of course, add a goal to seal the next round ticket.

Interestingly, clubs that had scored six unreplied goals in the continental championships in recent times were Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and Enyimba FC of Aba. 3SC defeated AS Kaloum of Guinea 6-0 in Ibadan after a 0-3 loss in Conakry in 1999 Champions League while Enyimba also recorded the same margin win in Aba against Bakili Bullets in the group stage of the same competition in 2003.

Thus, Gombe would attempt to equal the record so as to also prove to the whole world that the 0-5 loss in the first leg was a shocker. An official of the team had said on arrival from Cameroun that the result was a creation of the centre referee adding that, only two of the goals were genuine.

Meanwhile, two-time winner, Enyimba with a 4-0 lead, takes on Simba SC of Tanzania in Dar es Salam in a game which could give the Nigerian side little or no problem. Also today in Calabar, Dolphins FC will entertain CASA Sports of Senegal in the return leg tie of the Confederation Cup after a barren draw in Dakar.