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Last Updated: Saturday, 11 December, 2004, 17:54 GMT
Enyimba or Etoile Sahel?
Durosimi Thomas
BBC Sport, Abuja

The African Champions League trophy
Enyimba and Etoile Sahel are desperate to get their hands on the trophy

There will be an unusual buzz around the Nigerian capital, Abuja on Sunday as it hosts the second-leg of the MTN/Caf Champions League final.

Bus loads of Enyimba fans have arrived in Abuja after a 10-hour drive to cheer on their team against Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, who won last weekend's first leg 2-1.

Since Abuja is not Enyimba's home a carnival float has been parading round the city in an attempt to build up the hype for the match.

The game is being played in Abuja because Enyimba's home ground in Aba does not meet Caf's requirements for such a high profile match.

Enyimba and Etoile Sahel have already met four times this year but Sunday's confrontation will be the most crucial of all.

Reigning champions Enyimba won the year's first clash in Aba to win the Super Cup final in February but since then the Tunisian side have won twice and earned a draw.

Etoile know that a draw will be enough for them to win the trophy for the first time while Enyimba must win 1-0 or by two clear goals (if the Tunisians score on Sunday).

Etoile have an almost full strength squad to chose from with only the suspended Lotfi Sellami, who received a red card in the first-leg, unavailable.

Etoile Sahel's Ivorian striker Kandia Traore celebrates a goal
Etoile Sahel's Ivorian striker Kandia Traore scored in the first leg

Abdelmajid Chetali, the Etoile coach may settle for a counter-attacking strategy with Ivorian striker Kandia Traore and his Nigerian partner Emeka Opara up front.

While Zoubeir Beya and Imed Medhebi will be instrumental in midfield, with Raouf Bouzaiene and Nigerian goalkeeper Austin Ejide the defensive anchors.

Enyimba are without two suspended players in captain Uga Opara and Onyekachi Okonkwo.

Opara is serving the second game of an two match suspension for receiving four cautions during this year's tournament while Okonkwo received a red card in the first leg of the final.

Enyimba coach Okey Emordi knows that he has several options for scoring goals with more than half the team having found the target in this year's competition so far.

David Tyvkase and Emeka Nwaneri have scored Enyimba's last two goals in the Champions League against Esperance in the semi-final second leg and Etoile last week respectively.

While Jerome Ezoba proved to be an adequate replacement for Opara in the Enyimba defence in the first leg.

Given the strengths of both sides and the narrowest of margins that separates the teams Sunday's second leg could again be a tight affair.


SEE ALSO
Finalists forced into changes
11 Dec 04 |  African
Enyimba spurred on by history
10 Dec 04 |  African
Away form vital for Etoile
11 Dec 04 |  African
Etoile chief seeks destiny
10 Dec 04 |  African
Narrow win for Etoile
04 Dec 04 |  African



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