Kano Pillars eye Heartland upset

Nigeria's Heartland thrashed local rvials Kano Pillars 4-0

Kano Pillars are confident they can overcome a four-goal deficit against fellow Heartland to reach the final of the Champions League.

The two Nigerian clubs meet on Saturday in the second-leg of the semi-finals which has been brought forward by one week to allow the country prepare for its hosting of U17 World Cup.

Overturning such deficits is a feat no team has managed since a penultimate knockout round was added to the Africa's premier club competition eight years ago.

Success by such a wide margin is rare with Raja Casablanca of Morocco defeating Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast 4-0 in a 2002 semi-final and Coton Sport Garoua of Cameroon doing likewise last year against Dynamos of Zimbabwe.

But 56-year-old Slovenia-born Pillars coach Ivo Sajh says what appears to be an impossible mission is within the capabilities of a side playing in the competition for the first time this year.

"I am very sure we can overturn that result and go through," he predicted, referring to the 4-0 drubbing at the Owerri fortress of Heartland in the south-east of the vast oil-rich nation.

"We went to Owerri to win only to be surprised by the number of goals conceded during the first half. I was very disappointed with the team performance.

"I take full responsibility for the result and we are now busy preparing for the return match at home," said a coach who has also worked in India, Myanmar, Romania and Libya.

I am very sure we can overturn that result and go through Kano Pillars coach Ivo Sajh

Pillars, shock qualifiers for the group phase at the expense of six-time champions and hot 2009 title favourites Al Ahly of Egypt, were buried by a first-half goal avalanche.

Striker Emeka Nwanna, recently linked with Israeli club Apple FC, and midfielder Uche Agba struck twice each as Heartland matched their biggest Champions League victory margin at home this year.

Heartland finished runners-up to Entente Setif of Algeria in 1988 when the club was called Iwuanyanwu Nationale and the competition the African Champions Cup.

A couple of decades ago it was all about national pride with no prize money and no added incentive of pitting skills against some of the best clubs in the world like Spanish giants Barcelona.

Next month the winners of the two-leg final will receive a record US$1.5m and qualify for the end-of-year Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE with plenty more cash guaranteed.

And barring a couple of amazing results it will be Heartland and former champions Tout Puissant Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 5-2 first leg victors at Al-Hilal of Sudan - who contest the climax.

However, Heartland coach Kelechi Emetole took a cautious line.

"Despite the heavy first leg win, the tie is not over yet. Anything can happen in football and I have warned my players against becoming swollen-headed.

"I was impressed with our performance in Owerri. I was sure we could beat Pillars, but never thought we would score four goals against them," said the veteran 'Naze Millionaires' coach.