Kano Pillars and Enyimba leave too much to chance in the Champions League

Considering Nigeria’s perceived strength on the African continent, it is jarring that only one Nigerian side has lifted the Caf Champions League. The great Enyimba side of 2003-2004 remain the claim to fame for the Nigerian Premier League, and they were so unique in their approach and methods as to be considered outliers rather than pioneers.
Marshalled by street-savvy chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu and fuelled by the passion of erstwhile Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu, Enyimba won back-to-back African titles with first Kadiri Ikhana, and then Okey Emordi in the dugout. Both men have found the magic of that run tough to replicate since, and there was a sense of nostalgic desperation to the return of Ikhana to the Enyimba bench last season.
Emordi himself was brought in by Kano Pillars ostensibly to address Masu Gida’s poor performances on the continent. Under Mohammed Baba Ganaru, Pillars regularly showed themselves the best team in the land, winning two straight titles, but had been unable to impose themselves in the Caf Champions League.
However, there is more to club success than simply plugging successful coaches in and hitting ‘Play’, as both Pillars and Enyimba have found out to their detriment. For the second year running, there will be no Nigerian team in the group stage of the Champions League.
Kano Pillars were again the big disappointment, exiting 5-2 on aggregate to Moroccan side Moghreb Tetouan. If that scoreline suggests in any way that the tie was ever competitive, perish the thought - Masu Gida were destroyed away from home, blown away by a first-half blitz which saw their hosts seize control of the tie with three quick goals, before smattering on some gloss in the closing stages. A face-saving 2-1 win at home did little to re-establish their credentials, and questions must be laid at the feet of the club management.

                                       Okey Emordi | Another unsuccessful campaign with Kano Pillars
Pillars are easily the best-run club in the league, with the most faithful fan-base and financial clout. Following their title win last term, they proceeded to cherry-pick the finest names from across the league - there is nothing more blatantly ambitious and cut-throat than weakening the competition while strengthening after all – and when Masu Gida calls, you do not say no.
Enyimba are in much the same dominant positions domestically, and can boast the one thing Pillars cannot: history in the Caf Champions League. Experience counts for a lot in continental club football, with its peculiar booby-traps and pitfalls, and this is one area where Enyimba set the pace a decade ago, displaying the sort of vigilance and stringent organisation previously unseen from Nigerian sides.
It is in this area, previously a strength, that the Peoples’ Elephant have most clearly lost their touch, a case-in-point being the poor handling of top-scorer Mfon Udoh.
Udoh set an all-time scoring record in the Premier League last season, finishing with 23 goals. This immediately made Africa’s biggest sides sit up and take notice, and the striker fanned the flames by stating publicly his desire to leave the club. Disappointing it may have been, but it was not unprecedented: the Nigerian Premier League does not have the financial muscle to retain its top players, a fact buttressed by the fact that four of the top five goalscorers from last term moved abroad.
Indeed, Enyimba moved quickly to secure his replacement, but chose quantity over quality, raiding their rivals Abia Warriors for the duo of Peter Onyekachi and Chima Ulocha. It became clear as time progressed that there would be no deal done for Udoh. While it deprived the club of a potentially lucrative cash-in, it was the perfect opportunity to tie the striker to a new contract and make him a big deal, especially with all his major rivals leaving the league – with a view to another stellar season and an even bigger windfall a year on.
Instead, Enyimba dallied, waiting on a deal till the last minute, while neglecting to register Udoh in their Champions League squad. A plethora of missed chances in the home leg against Egyptian side Smouha would come back to haunt Ikhana’s men in a 2-0 away loss, while their most potent threat watched in despair.

                                             Sidelined | Mfon Udoh could not help Enyimba's challenge
Pillars, while more decisive in their transfer dealings, displayed a naivety so shocking it is hard to point fingers at any one source. Masu Gida’s inability to learn from past failures on the continent is a sad indictment of their technical staff and competence. Capitulating in the manner that they did before half-time in the first leg rendered the return academic, and one wonders about Emordi’s preparation for this game; if indeed there was a proper gameplan, so disjointed were Pillars at the back.
They also had their share of striker drama, missing striker Christian Obiozor, signed from Enugu Rangers in the off-season, who left the club alleging breach of contract. This, coupled with the robbery attack which kept out star striker Gambo Mohammed, made their task dicier. However, they do have the most top-heavy squad in the league, and their struggles away from home last season indicate that this was not a one-off.
Perhaps it is a mental thing with Pillars, dominant on their own patch but rancid away from home - a dichotomy that can be legislated for over the span of a league season and its many twists, but is unsuited to cup football - manifesting an already fragile psyche which was jarred even more by the trauma of a near-death experience.
Whether in terms of forward planning and clarity over player transfers, or in terms of psychology, what is clear is that Nigerian clubs must begin to look into areas previously ignored. It would not be remiss to have team psychologists on staff; it may seem an unnecessary indulgence, but until Nigerians team leave no stone unturned, no mountains will be moved on the continent.