All eyes on match officials as Enyimba battle Raja Casablanca in Aba today

By Christian Okpara on October 3, 2018

All eyes will be on the match officials for today’s CAF Confederation Cup semifinal first leg match between Enyimba and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in Aba.

Enyimba need a convincing victory on their home soil to ease the pressure on them in the return leg.

However, the attention will focus on the performance of the match officials, who allegedly came to Nigeria on the same flight with the Moroccan team for this game against Enyimba.

In their petition to CAF over the development on Monday, Enyimba complained, “the fact that the match officials traveled in the same flight with our opponents, Raja Club Athletic all the way to Port Harcourt, aborting the original Lagos route is deeply worrisome.”

Despite their concerns on the neutrality of the officials, Enyimba coach, Usman Abdallah is sure his wards will come out with a good result today despite Raja’s stronger pedigree in African football.

Enyimba dismantled Rayon Sport of Rwanda in the quarterfinals to get to this stage and Abdallah believes Raja will go the same way.

“Raja are a top side in Africa and they have a rich continental history and experience. They play good and compact football but we are not scared of playing them.

“North African sides are always tough for West African teams, because most of their players  play together for a longer time.

“Most of them find their way into their national teams – so they give their opponents a tough time.

“When we beat Rayon Sport, we knew the semifinals won’t come easy, so we started preparations long ago.

“We are not focusing on a particular player rather we will play our game and get the result we need at home.

“To be the best on the continent, one has to play against the best and tough teams,” he told a local website.

Enyimba is not new to Raja as they met in the 2011 Champions League, where the Aba side won the hoe leg 2-0 and drew goalless in Casablanca.

•Sourced from The Guardian. Photo shows Enyimba line-up

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 3, 2018


 

You may also like...
Victor Agali Hails Super Eagles

Tears, Wailing, Testimonies As Anthony Obaseki, Sports Journalist...

No Regrets At Sancho Leaving Man City For...

Salah Lifts Egypt To AFCON Semis Over Morrocco...

Dele Alli Charged By FA Over Coronavirus Post...

Nigeria Ready to Fulfill Potential at Women’s World...

 

Latest News CAF Award: Hedriel congratulates Lookman, says his award will inspire him to work harder Managers deserve 'more respect' - Postecoglou Man City's Dias ruled out for 'three or four weeks' I put him in retirement, Dubois mocks Joshua EPL: Man Utd’s Mount out for weeks as injury struggles persist Fury, Usyk talk tough ahead rematch Carragher urges Rashford to move on from Man United Fury and Usyk in astonishing 11-minute face-off Liverpool draw Tottenham in EFL Cup semi-finals LeBron James sets new NBA record in Lakers win Lookman’s market value hits €55m FIFA rankings: Eagles end 2024 in 44th place

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,207 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,350 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,407 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,051 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,988 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,951 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,787 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,354 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,426 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,094 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,542 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,973 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media