MTN CAF Champions League Final: 2days to go! But back in Sousse, 3 goals, 2 red cards and 1 stadium packed with over 20 000 passionate fans filling the stadium with their banners, lighting the sky with fireworks and singing with the pride of a true team supporter provided the kind of action and excitement that one expects to find in a tournament always enthusiastically followed by real fans of African football across the continent and beyond, with European sports satellite network Eurosport broadcasting the game live to fans on that continent as well. Although significantly outnumbered at the Stade Olympique, the small contingent of Enyimba fans who traveled to the game was as enthusiastic as their Tunisian counterparts as they banged their drums and sang throughout the match. Truly, it was a display of African football pride and passion that tournament sponsors MTN and the Confederation of African Football will be pleased to take note of, signaling just how much this competition means to the players and the fans of Africa’s top football teams. The result of the 1st leg, with Etoile shading it with a 2-1 scoreline, leaves the 2nd leg very much in the balance with both sides in with an even chance of snatching victory. However, the Nigerians must feel that they have the advantage. With an away goal already in the bag, one more in Abuja and a clean sheet from keeper Vincent Enyeama will see the trophy remain in Aba for an historic second year running - the first time this has ever happened since the tournament was restructured to include a league stage and only the second time since the feat was first achieved by the DRC’s TP Mazembe in 1967/1968. Certainly, Enyimba’s Ekene Ezenwa is confident that his team can do just that. "We will retain the Cup. It's not going to be an easy task but we will remain champions for the second year running. The team spirit is high and we are all committed to making sure the cup remains in Nigeria." Etoile will certainly have to fight hard to retain the 1 goal advantage they earned in Sousse and there’s every indication that with so much at stake, the Tunisians will put on a more determined display in Abuja to make up for the rather disjointed 1st half they delivered at home. With so much at stake in Africa’s most prestigious club competition - in terms of pride and cash as the MTN CAF Champions League carries a US$ 1 million prize for the winning team - there’s no doubt that this week’s game in Abuja will be a thrilling, action packed encounter. But then what else would we expect from Africa’s greatest club competition? MTN CAF Champions League Final 1st leg results Enyimba (Nigeria) 1 MTN CAF Champions League Final 2nd leg details Top 3 scorers for 2004: 10 - Mamadou Diallo (USM Alger, Algeria) 9 - Ali Zitouni (Esperance, Tunisia) 6 - Makhete Ndiaye (Jeanne d'Arc, Senegal), Abram Raselemane (SuperSport United, South Africa) 10
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