|
 |
 | | | You are in: Football: Africa |
|
| | Friday, 26 April, 2002, 10:20 GMT 11:20 UK Enyimba face uphill task  Julius Berger have represented Nigeria in the competition By BBC Sport Online's Eniwoke Ibagere in Lagos Enyimba FC's dream of African Champions League glory could end this weekend when they host ASEC of Abidjan in the Eastern Nigerian city of Calabar. Enyimba, Nigeria's representative in the competition, suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in the first leg in Abidjan a fortnight ago. Ike Kalu, Enyimba's top scorer in the domestic league, and midfielder Emma Ukpabi could miss the crucial game after sustaining ankle injuries. "They may not be fit for the match against ASEC," club chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu said. Kalu scored the club's only goal in the first leg tie in Abidjan. Since the first leg, the Aba town-based club intensified training in Ota, near the commercial capital of Lagos. Former Super Eagles trainer Amodu Shaibu has been helping head coach Kelechi Emeteole to prepare the team, which travelled to Calabar on Thursday. Since winning the league title last year, the Aba team has lost many key players and coach Godwin Uwua, now an assistant coach with the Super Eagles. The Nigerians say they are still hopeful of defeating ASEC to reach the lucrative group stage. Elusive Only eight teams will qualify for the next round of the tournament, where clubs are guaranteed at least a million dollars each. "We were robbed in our first leg match in Abidjan but we will play and win this return leg cleanly in Calabar," said Anyansi-Agwu
He alleged that the Chadian match officials were biased in their refereeing of the first leg. "All rules were thrown to the winds in order to favour the home team. There's nothing special about ASEC, which is living on its past glory," he said. Emeteole said this weekend's game is the important in its history because of the "high stakes". No Nigerian club has won the continental trophy since its inception in 1964. Rangers International of Enugu (1975) and Shooting Stars of Ibadan (1984 and 1996) are the only sides to have played in the final. | | See also:  10 Apr 02 | Africa 19 Aug 01 | Africa 09 Jul 01 | Africa Top Africa stories now: Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|  | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|  E-mail this story to a friend |
| |
| Links to more Africa stories |
| | | ||
 | ||||
 | | Back to top
| ||
| ------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> | BBC Weather >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |
