Despite eliminating Atraco, big-spending Sudanese club Al Merreikh are concerned of their performance going into the next round of the African Champions League.

Head coach Michael Kruger was the first to admit that his team did not play well as they can in the return leg against Atraco but he is just happy that they progressed to the first round proper.

"We have not played good football in the preliminary round. Atraco dominated us in Sudan and even in Kigali.

"We did not have enough preparations because our league has not started and this has affected the condition of players,” Kruger confessed.

Kruger added that the next round will be tough if Merreikh fails to improve on the level of football.

Al Merreikh will look up to its small Nigerian community to avoid a possible elimination from the Champions League when it engages Libya’s Al-Ittihad in the first round next month.

Former Enyimba striker Stephen Worgu, ex-Dolphins’ Kelechi Osunwa and former Julius Berger forward Endurance Idahor are players who are highly respected in the side because of their intelligent play and commitment to the team.

Though Kruger justified the millions of dollars spent on the recruitment of foreign talents, including Worgu and Osunwa, rivals Al Hilal recently, he faces a tough task in the second round.

Worgu emerged the top scorer in the competition last year with 13 goals, which helped Enyimba reach the semifinals where it lost to the eventual winner Al Ahly of Egypt.

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