CAF Confederation Cup Quarter Final: Enyimba, Coach Fatai Osho And The Big Task Ahead News

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CAF Confederation Cup Quarter Final: Enyimba, Coach Fatai Osho And The Big Task Ahead

By Daily Sports on May 3, 2021

Dear numerous readers, bear with me to skip whatever is currently happening in the country and permit me to concentrate more on sports issues this week.

We have all known the result of the last game of CAF Confederation Cup between Enyimba International FC and the invaders from South Africa, Orlando Pirates which was a classic of a game that lived the trappings of a grade A match between two top flight first rate teams in African club championship.

Both sides after stretching each other knew that they were not easy nuts to crack.

Enyimba International FC ran away with a lone goal which saw them top the group which set up the Nigerian representatives again Egyptian giants, Pyramids in a quarter-finals pairing held in CAF Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt last week Friday April 30.

The first leg of the epic show down would come up in Egypt on May 16 while the return leg will be played in Aba May 23, in Aba. The pair no doubt will be explosive bearing in mind the pedigree of both teams in the continental football.

It would be recalled that Pyramids FC of Egypt team was the finalist last term and such antecedent clearly showed that Enyimba has much in its hand and would be extra vigilance as the team visit the Egyptians in the first leg.

The Nigerian team’s hope of providing further in the competition solely depends on how it handles the first leg away knowing fully well her away game records so far.

The two time CAF Champions League back to back winners must prepare to the teeth and face Egyptians’ giants squarely by getting it right from the referee’s blast of the whistle to when the curtain will be drawn as the homers would go up in arms immediately not ready to allow the visitor settle down rather the North African club side would be ready to unsettle and disorganise their West African counterparts to the their advantage and to the fullest too.

Egyptian teams are no new comers to this kind of high profile match and also must have watched over and over again the last matches of Enyimba in the current campaign.

It is like norm for North African teams to closely study their opponents and analyse each player’s weakness or otherwise before such encounter looms.

Therefore such measure won’t be ruled out completely this time.

However, I think with proper preparations coupled with high level concentration and tighter superior match plans and strategies for especially away matches, coach Osho should be able to achieve good result against their opponent so as to make the return leg in Aba less difficult for his team.

One is glad to announce that his team would be on full strength as his captain that was suspension during the last group game would return and team up with his mates to hold the dreaded Pyramids from Egypt on standstill right in their home soil.

The problem of Enyimba team this season even in the NPFL games have been how best to hold teams down on away.

If there is how the team would achieve good result in the first leg and keep clean slate if possible or not allow embarrassing score line then the problem would half solved.

The competition has entered crunchy stage and as such the Aba team must brace up decisively to the present realities steering them on the face.

One must also note that fair enough coach Osho agreed that the competition has just began and so his lads and the technical crew are aware of the task ahead of against the former continental champs from Egypt.

He said their opponent remains no push overs and therefore his team will be careful in both leg but he will be concentrating on the crucial first leg that is coming up in Egypt.

He emphasised the need to get it right during that make or break game and then take it from there during the second leg in Aba.

Pyramids would swoop on their visitor looking for weak areas that will captailise to feast on. It won’t be an easy game no matter from which ever angle one may be looking at it from.

Classique football match at its best is anticipated as some of the best club teams in Africa take the centre strage.

Pyramids players are experienced and exposed too and there no argument about that as most of the lads that saw them at the finals last session are still lacing their boots for the one stop side. Fact is that as a lot is being said about them here so also such is being said about their opposite number from Nigeria.

It will be one match that would once again lay open football rivalry between the two football playing countries in the continent. Truth is that Enyimba would have her hands full to the brim as there will be no breathing space for them in the ensuing first leg. Being at red alert from beginning to end of the now or never encounter of wits and brawns would be the best anste dot Coach Fatai Osho would impact deep into his wards as this life time battle of who goes further in the second African club football championship ensues.

Football pundits believe that if the Nigerian flag bearers would do great job in the first leg then there will be a glimmer of hope of nearing the semi-finals. We all can vividly tell or say how crude Egyptian clubs can be in this kind of state.

The game would be won and lost in the first leg and any team that utilizes it resoundingly to its advantage may laugh last after the second leg.

It is not hidden also how naughty Egyptian team can be frustrating when they honour game especially when it has goal advantage. These are one of the things Enyimba must bear mind and be focused during the first leg in order to achieve tighter result.

Coach Osho must also evolve water tight game plan that will be difficult for their host to understand. The host will come all out to turn back the invaders from Nigeria.

True that Enyimba has a young team but the boys should show their opponents that though a young team but made up of football jugglers that are equally deadly. Once the Enyimba squad avoids travelling the road they did during their CAF Champs League against Sudan where it bled badly and could not turn the table against the deadly Sudanese boys in the second leg in Aba which saw or ended her elite competition dream

The route to semi-finals is to totally avoid losing badly, woefully or with wide goal margin during the first leg showdown in Egypt come May 16.

Enyimba side has the team that can withstand the frays of Pyramids if the concentration is high. Both Osho and the present class of Enyimba FC have date with history. Semi-finals first leg comes up in June 20 while the return leg will hold on June 27 and the finals is July 10.

It won’t be an easy match for both teams though but the fittest will carry the day if the other side sleeps. It is also one showpiece that may not produce enough chances but any team that makes use of half chance that calls will make the much needed difference.

We will continue to be alive to follow keen and closely this important match to Nigerians of all colours and divides.

Keep shooting hard till next week as the Struggle Continues!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 3, 2021