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Ajax Cape Town will head into their vital Champions League game against Enyimba in Nigeria on Sunday without the services of inspirational goal keeper Moeneeb Josephs.
Ajax Cape Town will head into their vital Champions League game against Enyimba in Nigeria on Sunday without the services of inspirational goal keeper Moeneeb Josephs.
'Slim Kat' has been in outstanding form on the continental stage, having ensured that the Cape team has been able to pick up some crucial points with his outstanding reflex saves and brave displays in between the posts.
However, an ankle ligament injury he picked up against Sundowns last week has ruled him out for at least six weeks.
Josephs' place will be taken by Andre Petim, who is a more than adequate replacement, although he does not have the same level of experience, especially in the Champions League, as Josephs.
Good news for the team, and coach Gordon Igesund, who has done brilliantly in recent months with a side that has been plagued by injuries and suspensions, is the fact that two players - defenders Cyrille Mubiala and Dominic Isaacs, are available for the Enyimba clash.
Mubiala's experience in Africa, as well as his no-nonsense approach, should be highly valuable in what is expected to be a physical encounter against the Nigerians on Sunday.
Enyimba, who have won the competition for the last two seasons in a row, got off to a poor start in the final league stage of the tournament, but a 2-0 win over Raja Casablanca in their last outing would have restored their confidence.
"Everyone still believes in our ability to come from behind in the group stages," chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu told the BBC recently.
"There has been a lot of pressure on us and I hope that people will leave us to do what we must do."
Realistically, the Urban Warriors need to win on Sunday if they are to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals, although a draw would not end their dreams altogether.
"A win would be great, a draw would only give us a mathematical chance depending on the other result in the group," Igesund said earlier in the week.
The Ajax mentor admitted that his side will be underdogs in Nigeria on Sunday, though he points out that his team have so far done well on their away travels and may just be able to take all three points on offer.
"It will be tough. Enyimba are the competition's defending champions and they are very difficult to beat at their home ground.
"But we'll give it a go, we have shown in the competition this season that we can grind out results away from home."
The match will be shown live on SuperSport 6, with coverage starting from 16H45 on Sunday afternoon.
Previous results (Group A):
Al Ahly 1 Raja Casablanca 0
Ajax Cape Town 1 Enyimba 1
Enyimba 0 Al Ahly 1
Raja Casablanca 1 Ajax Cape Town 1
Al Ahly 2 Ajax Cape Town 0
Raja Casablanca 1 Enyimba 0
Ajax Cape Town 0 Al Ahly 0
Enyimba 2 Raja Casablanca 0
Matches to play:
Sunday, September 11:
Al Ahly v Enyimba
Ajax Cape Town v Raja Casablanca
Previous results (Group B):
ASEC Abidjan 1 Zamalek 1
Esperance 0 Etoile Sahel 0
Zamalek 1 Etoile Sahel 1
Esperance 0 ASEC Abidjan 0
Zamalek 1 Esperance 1
ASEC Abidjan 1 Etoile Sahel 1
Etoile Sahel 2 ASEC Abidjan 1
Esperance 1 Zamalek 2
Matches to play:
Saturday, September 10:
Etoile Sahel v Zamalek
ASEC Abidjan v Esperance