By Daily Sports on April 10, 2016

Two-time winners Enyimba will be facing a familiar foe today when it trades tackles with Tu­nisian giants, Etoile Sportive du Sahel at the Adokie Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port-Harcourt.

The history of both clubs in the competition is legendary and the 2004 edition readily comes to mind when the ‘Peoples Elephant’ as Enyimba are nicknamed braved the odds to defeat Etoile on penal­ties after a 3-3 tie on aggregate.

Enyimba, the only surviving Nigerian club in the continental club championship this year, will be banking on the goal scoring prowess of Mfon Udoh who is the all-time top marksman in the domestic league, a record he inscribed two seasons ago with 23 goals, to be complemented with the likes of Joseph Osadiaye, Stephen Chukwude, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Leonard Ugochukwu, Christian Pyagbara, Nzube Anaezemba and a host of other top quality performers available for coach Paul Aigbogun to select from.

Having successfully navi­gated its way past Ugandan and Burundian champions, Vipers and Vital’O respectively in the pre­liminary and 1/16th round, with a 2-1 and 6-3 aggregate wins, Enyimba has all it takes to overcome the 2007 winners in this encounter at their adopted, 45,000-capacity Adokie Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port-Harcourt to make the return leg a mere formality.

Aigbogun, who rejoined the team at the start of the season is very optimistic of leading Enyimba as far as the ultimate of this year’s championship and says “no doubt, it is going to be a difficult stage of the competition but not as difficult as the stages we have successfully navigated.

“We are going to give the game more than a 100 per cent in both legs and I’m very optimistic we shall qualify for the group stage. We are not short of quality players to achieve our lofty aims”.

“One good thing about this round is that there are no more unknown teams. We can get some details on how our opponent, Etoile, play just as we are sure they also know much about us. We shall approach the encounter as if it is the final of the com­petition. Our best shot is what we shall put on display,” added Aigbobun.

Etoile drew a bye at the prelims and overcame Moroccan side, OC Khourigba 3-1 on aggregate in the first round. (Sunday Sun)

•Photo shows Enyimba.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 10, 2016

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