 Julius Berger have yet to win a continental title |
Nigerian club Julius Berger have vowed to lift the African Cup Winners' Cup in Tunisia this weekend as a tribute to grief-stricken Amaechi Nwanze. The striker buried his one-year-old son and wife within one week last month.
His son died after being struck by a falling television stand and the shock led to the death of his wife.
"We want to win the cup to honour Amaechi," said coach Fatai Amoo, ahead of the second leg of the final of the last edition of a competition staged annually for 29 years.
Berger hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over local club Etoile Sahel as they seek to continue the good form of Nigerian clubs in continental competitions this year.
Enyimba beat Egyptian visitors Ismaili 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League final last weekend and Enugu Rangers reached the Caf Cup semi-finals before bowing out to eventual winners Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
While Berger have yet to win a continental title, Etoile raised the Cup Winners' Cup in 1997, the Caf Cup in 1995 and 1999, and the Super Cup in 1998.
Berger were runners-up to JS Kabylie of Algeria in the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Tunisian side is tipped to win a competition that will amalgamate next year with the Caf Cup to form the Confederation Cup.
Etoile can draw comfort from an impressive home record in the Cup Winners' Cup, having won eight consecutive matches stretching back to a 4-0 drubbing of Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso six years ago.
MMIX
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