 |  Our morale is high and we are marching for the final |
Etoile Sahel forward Emeka Opara has said that the Tunisians will use their defeat in last December's Champions League final to go one step further this year. The Sousse club, who lost the 2004 final to Nigeria's Enyimba on penalties, face Raja Casablanca in Morocco on Saturday night in the first leg of their semi-final.
The Nigerian forward confidently predicted that Etoile will not only go through against the Moroccans but also triumph in November's final.
"Last year, we lost the final but it is not going to happen like that this year," Opara told BBC Sport.
"Because once you make a mistake in life, you don't repeat that mistake.
"We are already rejoicing that we are in the final. We are marching for the final, morale is high and we are not afraid of anything."
Although Etoile are in a land with a widespread reputation for tourism, the club's Bosnian coach Mehmed Bazdarevic has been reminding his players of the task at hand.
"The coach has been telling all the players to concentrate," the confident Opara continued.
"He's been telling us that we're in Morocco not for tourism bus strictly for business.
"Everyone has to concentrate."
Raja Casablanca only reached the semi-finals after beating Ajax Cape Town 3-0 away, a result that lifted them second in Group A after defending champions Enyimba were beaten by Egyptian semi-finalists Ahly.
"I watched Raja's last Champions League game; they are a very good team and they played very well," the Nigerian added.
"They won 3-0 but that win doesn't scare us."
Raja Casablanca have been crowned the best team in Africa on three occasions - triumphing in 1989, 1997 and 2002.
Meanwhile, Etoile Sahel have yet to win the Champions League but have won both the Caf Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.
In the weekend's other semi-final, Zamalek take on Ahly in Cairo on Sunday in the first leg of their all-Egyptian tie.
MMIX
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Match of the Day - Post-match interviews 