Enyimba International Football Club of Aba may have lost 1-0 at home to the rampaging Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final match on Wednesday but chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu says Nigerians should not write out his team.
The Peoples’ Elephant could not make the best of home advantage in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final clash against the Moroccans, losing 1-0 in front of their teeming fans.
Abdelilah Hafidi was the match winner for Raja Casablanca in the 48th minute, when his low shot from distance somehow squirmed through the legs of goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.
“It was a sad experience,” Anyansi said. “I was shocked to my marrows but it is a familiar terrain. If they came here and defeated us who says we can’t beat them at home in the return leg! We are equal to the task. Zamalek beat Enyimba 6-1 in 2003 and we went on to win the CAF Champions League back-to-back. We are still licking our wounds but all I can say is that Enyimba is down but not out. Watch out.”
Stanley Dimgba failed to draw Enyimba level when he blasted his penalty way off target after a Moroccan defender had handled the ball inside the box in the 65th minute. The home team continued to chase the game thereafter but they could not get back to the disappointment of the packed crowd at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba. While not trying to blame the player, Anyansi disclosed that the penalty would have been the turning point in the match.
“I won’t blame the player because penalty is like a piece of biscuit, you don’t know where it will break,” he said. “We have to quickly put the defeat behind us and marshal our plans for the return leg.”
Raja Casablanca bossed the first half with a 53% ball possession and also created the better chances including one in the 44th minute, which somehow they wasted with the Enyimba defence well beaten.
Enyimba struggled to threaten the goal of their guests with dashing winger Stanley Dimgba only coming to life late in the first half when he drove through the Moroccan defence.
Dare Ojo fired a pile driver from outside the box after half an hour, but Raja goalkeeper Zniti did well to gather it before it hit the back of his net.
The return leg will be played on October 24 in Casablanca with the overall winners advancing to the final of the continental club competition.
