October 14, 2011 (Super Sport)
October 14, 2011 (Super Sport)
Nigeria’s Enyimba will hope they can overturn a 1-0 deficit suffered at Wydad Casablanca to qualify for the final of this year’s Caf Champions League.
‘The People’s Elephant’ have won all but one of their home games in this year’s competition and they will hope they maintain such form against the Moroccans Sunday afternoon inside the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.
A fortnight ago, a last-gasp header by the near post from Benin international midfielder Pascal Angan handed Wydad a slender advantage going into this return leg match.
Enyimba were far too defensive in Casablanca, deploying three central defenders and hardly ever threatening the goal of the home team although 90 minutes of action.
The Nigerians will now have to attack in Sunday’s game so as to reach the final and stay on track for a third Champions League title.
“We have come a long way in this competition, so it is really important that we cross this hurdle by beating Wydad and getting to the final,” said non-nonsense defender Chinedu Udoji.
“We defended well in the first leg only to lose our concentration at the last minute. That won’t happen again.
“But with our fans behind us on Sunday, Wydad stand no chance.”
Experienced strikers Victor Barnabas and Junior Osagie have rejoined the squad for this all-important fixture, so too star goalkeeper Chijoke Ejiogu, who was injured and later was ordered to stay out of the team because of poor attitude.
Ejiogu’s deputy Paul Godwin has posted some huge games against Raja and even against Wydad he was superb before his mistake let in Agnan. That misjudgement was preceded by his fumble which also let in Heartland to score the winner in the Nigeria cup final.
Therefore it would be interesting to know who will now be the goalkeeper to start against Wydad on Sunday.
The Aba club lost their two rescheduled Nigeria Premier League matches in the last one week, but club chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, has assured the fans that the Champions league is a different ball game to the domestic league.
Aba may be something of a fortress for Enyimba, but Wydad have chalked up a decent record away from home in this year’s campaign. They have already claimed away draws at Esperance, Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Nigeria’s Kano Pillars.
They also have started well in the new Moroccan league season, and they lead in the early going with a perfect three wins in as many matches with no goals conceded, including a 1-0 win over Wydad Fez.
The 1992 champions are now gunning for only their second-ever Champions League final.
