CAF Champions League semi-finalist profile: Sunshine Stars
Tic-Tacs Breakdown
The Mimiko Boys play a 4-5-1 formation where the focus is on defence. Centre-backs Godfrey Oboabona and Alaba Osawe are athletic and intransigent, whilst goalkeeper Moses Ocheje has arguably been the best keeper in the competition. Despite having a playmaker in Cameroonian Tamen Medrano, Sunshine Stars struggle to control games and take the game to the opposition therefore they prefer to absorb pressure before hitting teams on the counter-attack. Most of the attacking moves come down the flanks, relying on the trickery of Izu Azuka and Ibrahim Ajani and the power of Dele Olundare.
Key man
The chaotic Izu Azuka, who has notched five goals during the competition, has impressed so much that defending champions Esperance have acquired his services to replace the FC Sion-bound Yannick N’Djeng. Azuka gave the aerially dominant Esperance defenders, Walid Hicheri and Mohamed Ben Mansour, a run around in their final group fixture, drawing several fouls with the ball at his feet, so it came as no surprise when they came calling for his services.
One to watch
Skipper Godfrey Oboabona, who misses the first leg after having accumulated too many yellows, has been outstanding in defence. Equally comfortable as a centre back and as a right back, his performances have won wide plaudits and have made him a regular in Stephen Keshi’s Nigerian national team.
Prediction
With Al Ahly’s away record far from impressive, Sunshine Stars have a plausible chance of causing a shock. They’re not entire strangers to the big stage – they did reach the CAF Confederations Cup semi-finals last year. All they need is belief, then. Alas, SFG predicts Al Ahly will narrowly come out on top.
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