CAPTAIN of Wikki Tourists, Mustapha Ibrahim, believes there is no hiding place for Sunshine Stars of Akure when both sides clash tomorrow in a matchday 38 fixture of the Nigeria Professional Football League to round off the season.
The game holds at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi and it is a mere formality game for the Owena Waves, while to the homers, it is a fight to the finish as their dream of grabbing a continental ticket depends on the outcome of the match.
Ibrahim, while speaking to Tribunesport in Ibadan after his side lost 0-1 to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), said victory over Sunshine Stars is non-negotiable.
“We started this season well and we were so determined to win the league but things didn’t go as planned. Losing this game has ended our dream of winning the league title but we have to forge ahead.
“Of course, we are no more in contention for the league crown but right now, we have shifted our attention to winning one of the continental tickets. The last time Wikki played on the continent [Confederation Cup] was in 2008 and we want to return the team to Africa,” the defender stated.
“Our joy is that we are playing the last game before our teeming fans and we believe the task of playing in the continental championship next year is achievable.
“We are thinking of nothing but the game against Sunshine Stars and how we can get victory to seal our continental ticket. It is not going to be an easy game but it means so much to us. Anything can happen and we don’t expect Sunshine Stars to take it lightly with us.
“Today, we were unlucky not to play at least a draw here (against 3Sc). We could have scored first but Ibrahim Hassan’s shot [23rd minute] was stopped by the cross bar. So, we want to make up for this defeat by winning the last game and win a continental ticket. We have to give our fans something to celebrate for their support and the only way is to get the CAF ticket now that our league title dream has been dashed,” said the former junior international.
The Abdul Maikaba-piloted side is fourth on the log with 54 points and a win against Sunshine Stars could see the Bauchi-based side on superior goal advantage finish second behind Rangers which had 60 points ahead of the last home game against El-Kanemi Warriors, while the Tourits will also pray for Rivers United already with 57 points to lose to Akwa United in Uyo as well as FC IfeanyiUbah with 56 points to lose in Abeokuta in the game against homers, MFM FC of Lagos.
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