Etoile, Sfax final ‘wide open’
Etoile, Sfax final wide open
Posted: 2008-11-20 13:17
While the CAF Confederations Cup final on Saturday is an all-Tunisian club affair, Africa will be well represented with the presence of players from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana and Congo within the ranks of both clubs.
Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien played to a goalless draw in the first leg and according to reports from North Africa the return leg is still a wide open affair.
Sfax coach Ghazi Grayri is quietly optimistic.
“We did not concede a goal in the away match and that is very good. It is for us to now show our potential especially, as our opponents will be obliged to open their game and create space,” he says.
Etoile’s coach Hervé Gautier also believes that the return match will be challenging and that playing at home may be an advantage but not a determining factor.
“We have to attack and defend well against a team who currently holds the trophy.”
Both teams are already in camp training, with Sfaxien boosted by the return of defenders Chaker Bargaoui and Aymen Ben Amor from suspensions.
Players at Etoile, who are aiming to set a record of winning the competition the most times, have been motivated with a R35 000 win bonus each should they emerge victorious from the weekend clash.
The Sahel outfit is also upbeat because they have not lost at home in 33 CAF Cup matches and have won every final that has been contested in Sousse.
Etoile will be without midfielder and playmaker Mohamed Ali Nafkha, who is serving a two-match suspension, however, they will be counting on their two in-form strikers Nigerian Emaka Opara and Ghanaian Sadat Bukhari.
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