All not lost insists Sunshine coach
Moses James, Medrano Tamen versus Esperance at the weekend
Medrano Tamen injured
Sunshine Stars coach Gbenga
Ogunbote has maintained he has not lost hope in the CAF Champions League
despite a 2-0 loss to Esperance.
First-half goals by Youssef Msakni and Yannick Ndjeng dumped the Nigerian club in their opening Group A clash right in front of their own fans in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.
Speaking with MTNFootball.com after the game, Ogunbote said his team failed to convert any of the chances they created against Esperance.
However, he said this was just a game out of six games, we still have five games more, we will do our best and make good use of the opportunities. We work on our lapses here for subsequent games.
He said "We did our best and created chance but unfortunately we could not convert any, but we are not out of the competition as we will do our best to bounce back.
“This was just a game out of six that we will play and we will do well to get through the group."
Esperance coach, Nabil Maaloul, on his part, said they came to Ijebu-Ode to win because they know how crucial the first game is.
"First games are always important. After scoring two goals, I felt Sunshine could come back because they attacked very well in the second half and that was why we wanted to score more goals to kill off the game, but it did not happen,” he said.
“As defending champions, everyone expects us to do well. We are on course with this victory.
“Sunshine, on their own, need to go and win away from home to stand any chance of going past the group stage.”
In the second round of matches in Group A, Esperance will host Aso Chlef of Algeria on Friday, July 20, while the following local rivals Etoile du Sahel welcome Sunshine in Sousse.
Speaking with MTNFootball.com after the game, Ogunbote said his team failed to convert any of the chances they created against Esperance.
However, he said this was just a game out of six games, we still have five games more, we will do our best and make good use of the opportunities. We work on our lapses here for subsequent games.
He said "We did our best and created chance but unfortunately we could not convert any, but we are not out of the competition as we will do our best to bounce back.
“This was just a game out of six that we will play and we will do well to get through the group."
Esperance coach, Nabil Maaloul, on his part, said they came to Ijebu-Ode to win because they know how crucial the first game is.
"First games are always important. After scoring two goals, I felt Sunshine could come back because they attacked very well in the second half and that was why we wanted to score more goals to kill off the game, but it did not happen,” he said.
“As defending champions, everyone expects us to do well. We are on course with this victory.
“Sunshine, on their own, need to go and win away from home to stand any chance of going past the group stage.”
In the second round of matches in Group A, Esperance will host Aso Chlef of Algeria on Friday, July 20, while the following local rivals Etoile du Sahel welcome Sunshine in Sousse.
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