By Piers Edwards
BBC Sport |
Vincent Enyeama says he will be fit to play for holders Enyimba of Nigeria against Tunisian side Esperance in next week's Champions League semi-final.
The goalkeeper was involved in a car crash on Monday night which left two people dead and the car driver in a critical condition in hospital.
Yet the Nigerian international says he will have recovered from his slight injuries to be able to play in the first leg of the semi-final in Aba on 31 October.
"It's one game I've been longing to play and I will definitely be there," he told BBC Sport.
"What I have is not a serious injury, just bruises - bruises on my knee, bruises on my shoulder, bruises on my head.
"I don't call that injury because I know that in the next few days I'll be fine."
The 22-year-old goalkeeper described exactly what happened in the crash, which occurred a day after Enyimba, the 2003 Champions League winners, secured their semi-final spot with a draw against Bakili Bullets in Malawi.
The accident took place when Enyeama, having flown back to Lagos from East Africa, was travelling to his hometown village of Uyo in southern Nigeria.
"I was going to see my parents and had to take a taxi from the airport," the Nigerian explained.
 |  I consider myself lucky because in most incidents like this, people die |
"It was on my way home that we had an accident with a motorcyclist who had two passengers who died almost immediately."
"It was not the fault of the airport taxi driver but of the motorcyclist [who suddenly swerved].
"Our car somersaulted but God helped me - I didn't die.
"I was in the passenger seat and didn't sustain any serious injury, but the driver did and I pray he's okay."
The car, in which only Enyeama and the driver were travelling, only stopped when it hit a pole which thus prevented the vehicle from hitting houses lying behind.
"We ended up upside down, with the tires facing the heavens," Enyeama explained.
"I was able to get out and as I was scared of an immediate explosion, I made quickly from the car.
"I consider myself more than lucky because in most incidents like this, people die."
MMIX
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