Former Nigeria International, Garba Lawal has disclosed that lack of believe is a major reason why Nigeria club sides have struggled to cut it against North African teams in CAF club competitions.
Nigeria clubs have continued to play second fiddle to North African for so many years leading to Nigeria teams crashing out prematurely from CAF competitions.
Recently, Rivers United and Plateau United dropped to the CAF Confederation Cup after been knocked out by Wydad Athletic of Morocco and Esperance of Tunis in the second preliminary round.
While Remo Stars were booted out by RS Berkane of Morocco in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The situation has continued to occur and ex Super Eagles midfielder, Lawal says it all comes down to preparation and believe on the part of the team.
"Honestly, North African clubs are not invincible. Our clubs can beat them, if they believe they can do so.
"Unfortunately, most of our clubs lack self-confidence. It is all about the 11 players and self-confidence. North Africans are not whites. I mean they are not Europeans. We learn football from Europeans the same way the North Africans have done.
"So, there should be no inferiority complex when it comes to playing against North Africans. I think this is one of the things our players are yet to understand. They must change their way of thinking," he said in an interview with Daily Trust.
He spoke on the need for proper preparation too as self believe must go with preparation.
"You may have self-belief and confidence but if you are not well prepared, you will still lose. This is the major difference between our clubs and their North African counterparts. Why they are well organised, our clubs still do things haphazardly"
On the antics and tricks of the African teams from the North, the former Esperance of Tunisia player said Nigeria clubs must learn to deal with it.
"Our clubs must learn to live with the tricks and antics of North African clubs. This is because there is no way they won’t play clubs from that part of Africa.
"They are recurring decimals in CAF inter-club competitions. So, whether we like it or not, we must play against them."
After moving to the second tier of CAF club competition, Plateau United and Rivers United have been paired with Libyan sides in the playoffs and it will be good to see them rewrite those wrongs in previous matches against the North Africans.
Written By Uche Dozie