CHIMAOBI UCHENDU
Raja Casablanca of Morocco can only choose to write off Enyimba International Football Club of Aba in the second leg semifinal of the CAF Confederation Cup at their peril. Raja shocked the People’s Elephant 1-0 at home in the first leg in Aba but club chairman Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu says his team has declared total war on the Moroccans.
Chief Anyansi told The Crest that the team will depart Lagos 6.30am on Monday with Air Maroc so that the players will have enough time to relax before the epic match. The return match against Raja in Casablanca will kick off 8pm Nigerian time Wednesday.
“I insist that Enyimba can turn the table,” Anyansi told The Crest. “In football, it is never over until it is over. Well, they can only write off Enyimba at their peril. The team can still go to Raja Casablanca and win to qualify for the final of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup despite the loss at home.
“I know that a lot of people have written the team off after we lost in Aba, but this is the semifinal where nothing is decided until the second leg is played.”
Anyansi, the most successful club chairman in Nigeria’s football history disclosed that the players are well motivated and they all know the importance of playing in the CAF Confederation Cup final.
“I spoke with the players and they have resolved to give the match their best,” he said. “I am so sure that Enyimba can beat the odds to reach the Confederation Cup final. The match in Aba was just like the first half, so we are going to Casablanca for the second half.
“I have not given up and I don’t want the players to give up. I want them to see the match as an opportunity to etch their names in gold because the whole world will be amazed if we are able to do it.”
Anyansi recalled glorious moments when ‘The People’s Elephant’ had redeemed themselves from similar situations in the past.
“This is not the first time that we’ve been in this situation,” he said. “I remember when we won the Champions League in 2004, we had a bad result against Petro Atletico here in Aba but went over there to beat them,” he recounted. “That same year in the semifinal, we were able to beat Esperance in front of their home fans. These are some of the reasons I haven’t given up.”
