Enyimba International of Aba will continue their quest to progress to the quarter final of the 2020-21 CAF Confederation Cup when they welcome Algerian side ES Sétif to the Enyimba International Stadium on Sunday in their third group stage game of the tournament.
Fatai Osho’s side are second in group B following their their opening two games. A win and a loss has seen them record three points. Meanwhile, Sétif are bottom of the group with just one point to amassed from their opening two games.
Enyimba’s only victory in the CAF Confederation Cup was a home game. The People’s Elephant defeated Al Ahli Benghazi 2-1 and they have not lost at home domestically either. The two-time CAF Champions League winners will hope their home form can bring them success on Sunday.
However, Sunday’s opponents will be no pushovers.
Despite their sluggish start to the CAF Confederation Cup, ES Sétif have rich continental history and they will look to use their years of experience on the continent to kick start their revival. The two-time CAF Champions League winners’ best performance in the CAF Confederation Cup was reaching the final in 2009 and they will hope to go a step further by winning this year’s edition but the game against Enyimba could also crush their hopes.
ES Sétif are in high spirits coming into the game. Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Aïn M’lila helped them move three points clear at the top of the Algerian Ligue 1 standings.
Head coach of Enyimba Fatai Osho is aware of ES Sétif’s recent form and understands that the Algerian outfit are making the trip to the West Africa with victory on their mind.
“The Setif team (ES Setif) have a point from six and they know if they don’t add anything to that, it is going to be a bit difficult for them,” he said.
“A loss to us (Enyimba) will mean a point from a possible nine, that could be a difficult situation.
“We expect them to come all out to fight, it won’t be that easy. On our part, we are quite aware that we need to get the maximum points so that we can keep our position on the table and see what we can get on the road.
“It is going to be a testing affair, both teams will be coming in with a lot of ambition to get the result. That is what we expected and we are quite aware of that.”
The gaffer of the record champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) also expressed his delight with the return of Anayo Iwuala and John Noble after their assignments with the national team. Osho expects Enyimba to improve now that the team is complete.
“We thrive more on our ability to play as a unit,” Osho added.
“No matter how long they have been out of the team, once they come back and they are fit they will always thrive and that is what we experienced.
“Anayo came back and he is doing very well in camp.
“Noble has also been outstanding in goal in our training sessions and I think both players will do very well come Sunday,” he concluded.
