{"id":3780,"date":"2013-05-17T07:27:57","date_gmt":"2013-05-17T07:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/mba-aims-to-deliver-for-rangers-in-caf-confed-cup\/"},"modified":"2013-05-17T07:27:57","modified_gmt":"2013-05-17T07:27:57","slug":"mba-aims-to-deliver-for-rangers-in-caf-confed-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/mba-aims-to-deliver-for-rangers-in-caf-confed-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Mba aims to deliver for Rangers in CAF Confed Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations star Sunday Mba adjusts his sights to the CAF Confederation Cup this weekend as the contest for group places begins.<\/p>\n

Mba-inspired Enugu Rangers of Nigeria host twice title-holders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia Sunday in the highlight of eight first leg play-off fixtures.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old midfielder scored the only goal of the Cup of Nations final against Burkina Faso in Soweto last February.<\/p>\n

He also struck the winner in the shock quarter-final triumph over hot pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast in South Africa.<\/p>\n

However, a transfer wrangle between Enugu and fellow Nigerian side Warrii Wolves kept him sidelined for several months. <\/p>\n

\"Sunday <\/p>\n

Sunday Mba: hopes to help Rangers<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Mba made his African debut for Enugu in a CAF Champions League qualifier this month and scored a wonder goal in Angola.<\/p>\n

But his long-range shot could not prevent Rangers losing to Recreativo Libolo and being demoted to the second-tier Confederation Cup.<\/p>\n

Enugu are among eight Champions League drop-outs tackling eight survivors from three rounds of Confederation Cup eliminators.<\/p>\n

And Mba will aim for a smoother build-up and more goals when Rangers tackle 2007 and 2008 Confederation Cup winners Sfaxien.<\/p>\n

The late completion of his transfer from Warri meant he left Nigeria only 15 hours before the kick-off in Angola.<\/p>\n

“It was a crazy situation as I arrived in the town where the match was being staged just an hour before the kick-off.<\/p>\n

“I changed into my playing kit inside the taxi taking me from the airport to the ground,” he recalled to Nigerian reporters.<\/p>\n

Enugu just missed the first Confederation Cup final in 2004, finishing group runners-up behind Asante Kotoko of Ghana on the head-to-head rule.<\/p>\n

Rangers are one of only two west African clubs to reach the play-offs with 2009 winners Stade Malien of Mali hosting Lydia Academic of Burundi.<\/p>\n

There are nine challengers from the northern Maghreb region, although derbies mean only six can reach the group stage.<\/p>\n

Tunisia have three contenders with 2006 winners Etoile Sahel away to JSM Bejaia of Algeria while CA Bizertin host Ismaily of Egypt.<\/p>\n

Rabat clubs FUS and FAR square off in an all-Morocco showdown of former Confederation Cup title holders.<\/p>\n

Entente Setif of Algeria host US Bitam of Gabon and Saint George of Ethiopia have home advantage over ENPPI of Egypt.<\/p>\n

A game between four-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and surprise side Liga Muculmana of Mozambique completes the line-up.<\/p>\n

There will be four caretaker coaches guiding Mazembe as Senegalese Lamine N’Diaye was redeployed after a Champions League loss this month to Orlando Pirates of South Africa.<\/p>\n

Return matches are scheduled for the weekend of May 31-June 2 and the six-matchday group stage kicks off in mid-July.<\/p>\n

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