By Jacob AJOM
Results of the first leg, first round matches of the 2012 CAF Champions League sent different signals to the two Nigerian representatives in the competition; Dolphin Football Club of Port Harcourt and Sunshine Stars of Akure.

While Nigeria Premier League champions, Dolphin played out a slim 2-1 win over their Cameroonian guests, Cotton Sport Garua at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, Sunshine Stars were drowning in Luanda, Angola as they conceded three goals in the last ten minutes to go down 4-1 to Recreativo.

None of the two Nigerian clubs can be said to be comfortable from the first leg results. More worrisome is the case of Sunshine Stars. To progress, Sunshine Stars need an outright victory with four unreplied goals against the Angolan club in the second leg this weekend in Ijebu Ode. Is it sunset for Sunshine? How do they get over this?

Coach Ogunbote is not a stranger to continental football. Last year he guided the modest Akure side to  a respectable outing in the group stage of the same competition in their maiden campaign. What made the difference last year was their very impressive away record which was boosted by mouth watering victories.

Unless they change their mentality in subsequent matches, their start in the campaign this term sends very worrisome signals to their teeming fans.

Sunshine Stars boss Olubenga Ogumbota be;ieves his players can turn the table in the return fixture.: “My players are capable of overcoming the deficit – uncomfortably large though it is. I do not believe anything is lost.”

Dolphin will be going to Cameroun with a slight edge over their hosts. Like experts would say, the game is still open.