July 9, 2012 – Sunshine Stars Spoil My Day- Steven Keshi
Super Eagles Chief Coach Steven Keshi left the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode a sad man on Sunday, disclosing that the purported best club in the country at the moment, Sunshine Stars, are nothing to write home about.
Keshi watched in awe, how the defending champions of CAF Champions League, Esperance of Tunisia, taught Sunshine Stars of Akure how to play the game better.
Esperance not only scored two unreplied goals in the first half, the Tunisians outplayed their hosts and defended the tally till the end of the Champions League first group match in Ijebu Ode.
And, Keshi, who was at the stadium to scout for two or three players to beef up his new look Eagles, disclosed in an exclusive interview with P.M.Sports that Sunshine spoilt his Sunday.
“I’m not a happy man watching this type of match. Sunshine were ordinary with their approach to the tie against Esperance, and I find it very difficult to pick a single player here. No! I thought they would make my day, but I’m leaving Ijebu Ode a disappointed man honestly,” Keshi lamented.
Esperance justified their status as Africa’s best club, as Msakni Youssef scored their first goal in the 21st minute when he tapped the ball in, following a pass from Afful Harrison.
Harrison, who dribbled his way from the right flank, turned Sunshine’s defender Isaac Hale Hale inside out and sent a pass across the six yard for an easy tap in for Youssef.
Ndjeng Joseph Yannick netted the second goal for Esperance with a classic volley, which he curled with his left foot into the right corner of the net, leaving Sunshine goalkeepr, Moses Ocheje, who dived full length rolling on the turf.
In their usual style, Esperance played the game holding more possession, as Harrison and Mouelhi Khaled provided enough passes for their strikers from the midfield.
Goalkeeper Ben Cherifia Moez was not really tested, though Sunshine strikers, Ibrahim Ajani, Azuka Bobo Izu and Osas Idehen had few chances, which they wasted.
The Nigerian club raised their game in the second half, forcing Esperance to play a defensive game, leaving only Yannick and Youssef to attack occasionally. Bobo Izu and Ajani tried to reduce the tally, but their efforts were thwarted by the Tunisian goalkeeper.
