Enyimba manager, Fatai Osho has welcomed wholeheartedly the prospect of a matchup against compatriots, Rivers United in the second preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup, describing the potential clash as a celebration of Nigerian football.
The People’s Elephant fell out of Africa’s prime inter-club competition, the Champions League, to the Confederation Cup thanks to a 2-4 aggregate humbling at the hands of Sudanese champions, Al-Merrikh Sporting Club.
In the Cup draw on Friday at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Enyimba were paired with the aggregate winners of the first-round clash between South African side, Bloemfontein Celtic and the Nigerian side, Rivers United.
Rivers United enjoy a 2-0 advantage over Celtic after the first-round, first-leg clash that took place on December 23 in Bloemfontein. The decisive leg was to be held on Wednesday, January 6 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria before CAF stepped in and amended the fixture to a yet-to-be-determined date.
Osho however said it would have profited the country greatly if both teams could have faced different opponents at this preliminary round of the competition.
“Well, it will be an interesting encounter more like a celebration of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
“At least, there is a guarantee that a Nigerian side will play in the group stage of the competition but not really the best for the country or it should not have come this early.
“Both teams have the prospect to move into the group stage playing different opponents. It would have been better for the country to have two in the group stage like it happened the last time Rangers and Enyimba played in the group stage.
“Now we are condemned to have just one, not really a good one for the country,” said the former Remo Stars gaffer.
Osho said the NPFL sides will enjoy adequate competition preparing for the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round matchup in February.
“Luckily for us and Rivers United, the NPFL is back, we will have more than enough time to be active and prepare for the two-legged match.
“Luckily again none of us will be travelling outside the country or embarking on a long journey for the match.
“That’s a good one for the country, we pray that Rivers United scale through the Celtic hurdle, Nigeria will be guaranteed a candidate in the group stage,” said Osho.
Winners of the two-legged encounter of the second preliminary round will progress automatically to the group stage of Africa’s second tier inter-club competition.
Story by Humphrey Njoku
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