By Daily Sports on February 9, 2018

The 2018 Nigeria Professional Football League season is now in full gear and one of the teams to have endured a particularly newsworthy start to the campaign is Mountain of Fire FC.

Having finished in an unprecedented second place, just four points behind eventual champions Plateau United, in 2017, the Olukoya Boys' expectations couldn’t be any higher as they will participate in the Caf Champions League this year alongside the Peace Boys.

They take on Malian outfit Real Bamako in the preliminary round this Sunday, and there’s considerable excitement as continental football returns to Lagos for the first time since 2004 when Julius Berger FC (now Bridge FC) participated.

The church-owned team have not started the new campaign on a positive note, winning three of their opening seven games and losing four. While it is the norm to see NPFL teams aim to win at home and gain points on the road, MFM have not been convincing enough on their own turf.

In all games played at the Agege Stadium so far, they have failed to assert their dominance in the manner they did last term. They haven’t been too strong in midfield, often gifting possession needlessly to the opposition which has left coach Fidelis Ilechukwu often frustrated. He has stressed that much shouldn’t be expected from his team on the continent.

“I can’t promise anything concerning the CAF Champions League because of our situation now. The truth is that we are not ready for the continental competition...football is not magic and we cannot perform magic.” Ilechukwu told media after his side’s 2-1 win at home to FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

•Photo shows Fidelis Ilechukwu.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 9, 2018

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