APR battle for survival in Sousse

Caf Champions leagueFirst round, 2nd leg, Today, 1500 hoursESS vs. APR FCLEAGUE champions APR FC will be figthing for survival when they take on Tunisian side Etoile Sportive du Sahel in the return leg of the first round of Caf Champions league this afternoon at Stade Olympique de Sousse.APR who played out to a goalless draw against ESS a fortnight ago will be vying to break their jinx aganist Nothern Africa clubs and hope for a slot in the second round.Any scoring draw will see the army side through.APR’s coach Ernie Brandts said; “My team is capable of overcoming the obstacles we might face in the encounter. I do not believe anything is lost.”“Winning is good, especially given the fact that we have had a poor record to North African teams. We obviously want to win and I am confident that the team can do it,” After battling to a 2-all draw in Kigali, APR was humbled to a 0-4 deficit by Tunisian side Club Africain, last year, at the same stage of this competition.Brandts will be boasted by the return of Mbuyu Twite and Jean Claude Iranzi, who both missed the first leg through suspension and illness and he hopes this addition has given an advantage to his side. In the first leg, APR FC were left frustrated after being held to a scoreless draw with Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia opting to defend.APR created and wasted so many chances that could have eased their trip to Sousse.The match, which will be played at 3pm local time, is set to be officiated by Ghanian quartet of Agbovi William, Laryea David, Salifu Malick Alidu and Nunoo Thomas, while Morocco’s Mohalmed Guezzaz is the match commissioner.In the weekend’s other games, Nigeria’s Dolphin take a precarious 2-1 lead over 2008 runners-up Cotonsport Garoua to Cameroon while Sunshine must overcome a 4-1 first-leg drubbing when they host Recreativo do Libolo of Angola. Zamalek take on Africa Sports of Ivory Coast in the in a repeat of the 1986 CAF Champions Cup final won by the Cairo club on penalties while arch rivals of Al Ahly play Ethiopia’s Bunna. Holders Esperance of Tunisia should advance to the final qualifying round without undue difficulty having drawn 1-1 with African debutants Brikama United in Gambia.