IT'S NOT OVER FOR HEARTLAND – SIASIA

Siasia
Heartland's caretaker Coach, Samson Siasia, has sensationally said that it's not over yet for his team in spite of the 1-1 draw his side played with Ahly in Owerri on Sunday. Bubbling with hope of scaling through the hurdle, Siasia said Heartland would go back to the drawing board and find a way out of the situation it finds itself.

Siasia saluted his players' performance against an experienced Ahly, which has won the annual tournament a record six times.

'I'm very impressed with the performance of my players. They gave everything and were just unlucky to concede that equaliser,' said Siasia after the match.

'It is a good start for us in as much as we did not lose knowing the pedigree of Ahly. There is no cause for alarm.'

Heartland has also boasted it would be crowned winner of the CAF Champions League despite drawing its opening group match at home at the weekend.

The Owerri club was forced to a 1-1 draw by Ahly at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday.

Heartland, which was beaten in last year's Champions League final by TP Mazembe of DR Congo, took the lead on Sunday through Bello Musa Kofarmata four minutes after the interval, before Mohamed Aboutrika drew Ahly level on 75th minute from the penalty spot.

In the other Group B match, host, Ismaili of Egypt fell 1-0 to JS Kabylie of Algeria.

Heartland will be guest to JSK in Algeria on July 30 in continuation of the competition.

However, star defender, Ikechukwu ThankGod, said that the 'Naze Millionaires' could only get better leading to the business end of the continent's richest club competition.

'It was not a bad start against Ahly because we have gone through this road before and came out better for it. We have a very good team which will go all the way and win the competition this year,' ThankGod said. Heartland has done well to retain the core of the team that reached last year's final with only Uche Agba and Stanley Okoro the notable absentees following their transfers overseas.