CAF CC: Plateau United in high spirits to face Al Akhdar – Elisha Golbe

Captain of Plateau United, Elisha Golbe insists his side is ready to battle Al Akhdar of Libya in the CAF Confederation Cup Playoff on Wednesday.

The Peace boys were bounced out of the CAF Champions League group stage following a controversial penalty kick to Esperance Tunis of Tunisia after losing 1-0 in Tunisia.

Plateau United had won the first leg 2-1 in Abuja but crashed out on away goals, dropping to the CAF Confederation Cup and Golbe says the team has put the disappointment behind them and seeking to forge ahead.

“We gave our best in Tunisia. The result wasn’t favourable notwithstanding due to bad officiating. We have put that behind us and forged ahead of our game against the Libyan team.” Golbe said on Brila FM this week.

Plateau United has lost one of its previous four games with the defeat coming away in Tunisia against Esperance Tunis (1-0) and he assures they will leave no stones unturned.

“As a team, we have psyche ourselves to make sure that what happened in Tunisia does not affect us here in Nigeria as we are first playing at home,” the captain added.

“Definitely by the special grace of God with the boys in good shape, we are ready for the match. By God’s grace, we shall give out our best.”

For Al Akhdar, the Libyan side had a similar record to Plateau United albeit in the CAF Confederation Cup with two wins, a draw, and a defeat.

The team defeated Ahli Khartoum of Sudan (3-0) and Azam of Tanzania (3-0). A 0-0 draw with Ahli Khartoum and a 2-0 loss to Azam dented Al Akhdar’s unblemished record in the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup.

In the Libyan Premier League, Al Akhdar won its only league game  4-0 against Al Taawun on October 21, 2022, and are second on the log.

The first leg of the game will take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, in Abuja while the return leg in Libya is slated for November 9 with the winner on aggregate of away goal making it to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.