Posted by Ademola Olajire on
They have only one point from three matches in the group phase and look endangered species by all means, but African champions Enyimba are upbeat about their chances of qualifying for the semi finals of this year's CAF Champions League competition.
They have only one point from three matches in the group phase and look endangered species by all means, but African champions Enyimba are upbeat about their chances of qualifying for the semi finals of this year's CAF Champions League competition.
"We gave a good account of ourselves against Raja Casablanca and were unlucky to have lost. But we await the Moroccans as they come to Aba on August 7. We should have taken all the three points in Morocco, but sometimes in sport, what you desperately wish and fight for doesn't come your way.
"When we play them in Aba on Sunday, we believe things will go our way", former national team skipper Sylvnaus Okpalla and an assistant coach of the People's Elephant, said during the week.
Enyimba were piped by a lone goal inside the Mohamed V Stadium a week ago and are at home to the ‘Green Devils' on Sunday at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, south-eastern Nigeria's commercial capital.
Club chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu said: "Enyimba are a big team and a serious team, and we remain exactly that. We have faith in our ability to win the Champions League for the third time and for keeps and we're doing everything to ensure that we achieve that.
"We were unfortunate to lose that game in Morocco but there is no point crying over spilt milk and the only thing we're looking forward to is to play them here. There are still three matches left in the campaign; it is not as if the series is over".
The Nigerians have only one point from the 1-1 draw with Ajax Cape Town in South Africa on the Day One of the series but then lost 1-0 at home to Al Ahly from Egypt and were downed by the same score on a night game in Casablanca on Sunday.
Coach Okey Emordi has to approach the remaining three matches with every seriousness, by picking players who will deliver in front of goal and not dramatists who would feel they are acting in a movie. Defender Yusuf Mohammed and strikers Chiedozie Johnson, Ifeanyi Obediah and Atanda Sakibu have fallen far short of expected standard in this campaign.
"Governor Orji Uzor Kalu believes that Enyimba football club will win the CAF Cham,pions League for keeps and that they would go ahead to represent African in the World Club Championship in Japan. We have no reason yet to start doubting. There are nine points left to be taken from the last three matches, and who said it is not possible for Enyimba to take all?
"This team has conquered Africa in the past two years, and though complacency is a certain disease sure to creep in at such situation, this is not the case we have on our hands now. Some players simply have failed to raise their game and deliver, and some have shown outright indiscipline. However, for now, all we are interested in is to keep the family unit together and ensure we win all our remaining games. Yeah, it is possible", said Chief Emeka Inyama, Commissioner-designate in Abia State.
Governor Orji Kalu, team mentor, will return from the United States of America this week and will be number one supporter for the Aba millionaires as they attempt to put their campaign back on the road. He was in Chicago, USA to deliver a lecture last week and was therefore absent when Enyimba locked horns with the ‘Green Devils' in Morocco's commercial and economic capital.
The tumult and frenzy of the Enyimba International Stadium would be enough to put any team ill at ease but Raja have won four African titles in the last 16 years and are among the most street-wise squads in the continent.
But Enyimba are boosted with the services of Flying Eagles' World Youth Championship star, Solomon David Abwo, who has not played since the tournament in Holland, and a new disciplinary code in the team's camp will guarantee seriousness ahead of the clash.
Should Enyimba pick all three points against Raja, they would approach their next match, also at home, against Ajax Cape Town of South Africa, will tremendous confidence. Should they win that, they might eventually not need more than a draw from their last game against group leaders Ahly in Cairo.
Sunday's match in south-eastern Nigeria will be officiated by Libyan referee Abdelhakim Shelmani, one of the best in Africa.
Enyimba must wake up from their slumber to be able to cage Raja, having been spanked by academy club, Paulson 3-1 in Benin City in a Coca-Cola FA Cup Round of 16, second leg match of Wednesday.