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
You may also like...
Neymar Relieved As Rape Case Is Dismissed
Egypt 2019 AFCON: Gernot Rohr as an Alarmist...
Ex-coach, others hail Falcons
Wilder ordered to do community service
Oshoala calls for more friendlies for Super Falcons...
Barcelona Players Not Passing To Griezmann — Pundit...

Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Aspinall requires further tests on eye injury in UK
Real Madrid impress but Vinicius tension grows - Clasico talking points
Rooney says struggling Liverpool lack leadership
NOC To Host FinalIOC Advanced Sport Management Course Module
4 Teams Lock Horns For N10m Tiger 5-Aside Football Battle In Awka
Nezianya, Odikpo, Balepo, Ndukuba, Chukwuleta For SWAN @60 Veterans’ Awards
Anambra FA Crisis: Igbokwe, 61 Years Old Football Administrator Protests Arrest, Detention
Gala European record thrills Osimhen
La Liga: 'I am enjoying football at Barca', Rashford eyes permanent move
CAF nomination thrills Flying Eagles captain
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,273 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,477 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,428 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,036 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,015 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,988 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,818 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,397 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,512 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,052 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,491 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,953 views)