Shooting Stars have travelled from Nigeria to Tunisia for Sunday’s decisive CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round second leg against CS Sfaxien.
The Oluyole Warriors departed Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, beginning their journey with a flight through Casablanca, Morocco, as they continue preparations for the return fixture.
The match will be played at Stade Taieb Mhiri in Sfax, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 Nigerian time.
Shooting Stars carry a 1-0 advantage into the game after securing a narrow victory in the first leg at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. Emmanuel Lucky scored the only goal of that encounter, giving Salisu Yusuf’s team a slender lead to protect away from home.
The trip to Tunisia is a significant moment for the club, marking Shooting Stars’ first away journey in continental competition for 27 years. Their return to the road in Africa comes with the tie finely balanced, despite the Nigerian side holding the advantage from the opening match.
The club will now aim to complete the job against CS Sfaxien and progress from the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Sunday’s fixture represents the final stage of the tie, with the outcome to be determined over the two legs.
Shooting Stars are not the only Nigerian representatives to make a strong start in the competition. El-Kanemi Warriors also claimed a first-leg advantage, defeating UDIB of Guinea-Bissau 3-0.
That result gives El-Kanemi Warriors a more commanding position ahead of their return fixture, while Shooting Stars will have to defend their one-goal lead in Sfax.
The Nigerian club left Lagos on Wednesday and will continue its preparations after travelling via Casablanca before arriving in Tunisia. The return match at Stade Taieb Mhiri will decide whether the Oluyole Warriors can build on their home victory and advance in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Shooting Stars’ first-leg success was secured by Lucky’s decisive finish, with Yusuf’s side now requiring another disciplined performance to preserve their advantage. The club’s continental campaign has reached a crucial point as it prepares for its first away match in Africa in almost three decades.
By Adeboye Amosu