Sundowns' Champions League opponents sack coach on the eve of trip to SA

23 June 2016 - 18:45 By Mark Gleeson

Mamelodi Sundowns will get more evidence of the perils of coaching on the continent when they face Enyimba in the African Champions League next week‚ with their Nigerian opponents club sporting a new coach. In the wake of Enyimba’s 1-0 home loss to Egypt’s Zamalek on the opening weekend of Group B action just days ago‚ Enyimba have fired Paul Aigbogun and replaced him for the trip to South Africa with Samson Unuanel.It is a return to Enyimba for Unuanel‚ who previously coached at the club in 2009-10.Aigbogun stays on in a technical role at the club but has been shifted sideways to allow the new man to assume command.“I feel honoured rejoining the team I worked with six years ago‚” Unuanel told local reporters.“They believe in my tactical and managerial skills and I will put in my best effort to justify my appointment.“My target is to win many laurels with them‚ starting with the Nigeria Premier League and the Champions League‚ where I believe we still stand a good chance to reach the next stage despite losing to Zamalek.”Enyimba won a rescheduled derby match in the Nigerian league against Abia Warriors on Wednesday but have had their weekend fixture postponed to allow them to travel early to South Africa for preparations.Earlier this year‚ Sundowns’ win over AC Leopards of the Congo in the early rounds of the Champions League led to the coach’s sacking.Lamine Ndiaye‚ who has previously worked at TP Mazembe‚ was given his marching orders after AC Leopards were beaten by the Premier Soccer League champions in the second round.Sundowns go into the match with Enyimba at Atteridgeville on Wednesday in high spirits after a surprise 2-0 away triumph over 2014 champions Entente Setif of Algeria in their opening Group B match last Saturday night. - TMG Digital..

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