AS Sobemap coach Narcisse Tinkéu refused to celebrate his side’s 1-1 draw with Enugu Rangers, insisting the result fell short of what the Benin Republic club had targeted in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie.
Sobemap arrived at the Moshood Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Sunday and left with a result that keeps the tie finely balanced ahead of next weekend’s return fixture, but Tinkéu was clearly unimpressed with the outcome.
Asked whether the draw represented a big performance for his players, the coach immediately rejected the suggestion and warned against becoming carried away by the scoreline.
“How can you say big performance? It’s not a big performance. It’s a draw.”
Tinkéu acknowledged that his team had avoided defeat but stressed that the match could easily have gone against them, particularly given the pressure Rangers applied during the contest.
“So, we should not be emotional. We should not take the game with emotion. We could have lost the game.”
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The Sobemap coach nevertheless had plenty of respect for Rangers, describing Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side as a strong team with players capable of making the tie difficult for his team.
“You see, a football match is very difficult. Maybe you, journalists, as spectators, you see different. But I think, let me first of all, as I said to the previous journalist, congratulate Enugu Rangers.”
He added:
“For me, it’s a very good team. A very good team with strong players, very, very tough players.”
Rangers had taken the lead through Iwundu Chidozie in the 23rd minute after dominating much of the opening half, but their inability to turn that superiority into a bigger advantage allowed Sobemap back into the contest after the interval.
The visitors eventually found the equaliser and held on to leave Abeokuta with a result that could yet prove valuable, although Tinkéu made it clear that a draw was never the objective.
“Of course, we did the draw. We did the draw. We expect for this game better. We came here to win the game.”
The result means Rangers will now have to win in the return leg if they are to avoid an early exit from the Champions League, while Sobemap know that another draw would not necessarily be enough depending on the competition’s progression rules.
Sobemap face unusual home advantage problem
The second leg will present a different challenge for Sobemap because they will not be able to welcome Rangers at their own official home ground.
Instead, the Benin Republic side will play the decisive fixture in Lomé, Togo, leaving them without the conventional advantage of returning to a familiar stadium surrounded by their supporters.
Tinkéu believes playing at home would have made a significant difference, particularly with the backing of the crowd behind his players.
“Of course, it’s very important. Because you imagine, if we play this game, the next game at home in our field with our supporters and so on, I think it will be different.”
The coach pointed to the familiar football cliché about the importance of home support but immediately explained why Sobemap will not enjoy that advantage in the return fixture.
“Because usually in football, they say the supporters are the 12 players.”
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The problem, according to Tinkéu, is that Sobemap do not currently have an approved home venue for the continental fixture.
“But what is not mine, we don’t have an official pitch at home.”
That has forced the club to take the decisive match across the border to Togo.
“So we are obliged to go to Brennan, to Togo, to play the next game. We are going to try to do our best.”
The 1-1 draw provides neither the satisfaction of a victory nor the full benefit of home advantage in the return leg.
With the aggregate score level, both teams now face a decisive second meeting in Lomé, where Sobemap will attempt to complete the job without the home setting their coach believes could have made the difference.
