Goalkeeper John Shaibu believes that Bayelsa United’s quest of reaching the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup second round ‘now looks easier’ as their preliminary round fixture against Ashanti Golden Boys of Guinea will be decided over one leg.
The game will not go as planned owing to the fallout of the reported coup d’etat attempt in Guinea.
To the former Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors goalkeeper, the verdict by the Confederation of African Football is a massive boost for Depreye Tebowe’s men.
“Bayelsa United received this news with great joy yesterday and now the job looks easier,” Shaibu told Goal.
“We know that a win on home soil will see us through to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup and that is a massive boost to us.
“Even at this, we will approach the match like a hungry tiger because our opponents would be coming to pick an away result.”
CAF had issued a statement on their website stating all matches involving Guinean teams would be settled away from home in accordance with CAF inter-club competition’s rule.
“After monitoring the political and security situation in Guinea and following careful consideration, the Caf Inter-club Committee has decided that all three fixtures involving clubs from Guinea in the preliminary stages will be played in a single leg at the opponent’s territory in accordance to Article 2.1 of the Caf Inter-club Regulations,” it read.
Aiteo Cup champions Bayelsa United will now wait till next weekend before facing the Guinean team at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Meanwhile, Akwa United and Rivers United will still go ahead with their schedule this weekend in the Champions League against CR Belouizdad (Algeria) and Young Africans (Tanzania) respectively.
Nigeria’s other representative in the Confederation Cup, Enyimba are drawn bye from this stage of the competition.
