Former Nigerian league champions Enyimba will welcome back injured duo of goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai and experienced defender Isiaka Oladuntoye when they face Moroccan side Raja Casablanca in their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final second leg tie on Wednesday.
Afelokhai was injured and replaced in the second half of Enyimba’s 0-1 first leg loss in Aba on October 3 while centre back Oladuntoye missed the game altogether due to an injury he suffered during one of the club’s AITEO Cup group games in Gombe.
Both players are now back with the team and were part of the Enyimba contingent which travelled from Lagos to Casablanca on Monday morning from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The Enyimba team touched down at the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca at about 10:10am local time on Monday and will have their official training session on Tuesday night at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Also making a return to the Enyimba side is Ghanaian goalkeeper Fatau Dauda who has not been with the team due to disciplinary issues. Dauda last played for the People’s Elephant in their 0-2 loss away to Ivorian side AC Williamsville in late July.
“By the grace of God, we believe that a good result will come out of the match. We have really prepared because we want to win the match, we want to make it to the final. It won’t be easy but by God’s grace, we believe we will do our best,” Afelokhai told Enyimba Fan Blog ThatEnyimbaFan before departure.
Super Eagles second choice goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and speedy winger Freedom Omofoman are left out of the party to Casablanca but regulars Andrew Abalogu, Sunday Adetunji and rising youngster Ikouwem Udo Utin are in the mix.
Enyimba have a mountain to climb if they hope to reach next month’s final. They need to overturn the 0-1 deficit at the raucous Stadium in Casablanca, venue of Morocco’s 4-0 win over Nigeria in the CHAN final last Febuary. This semi final second leg starts at 8pm Nigerian time on Wednesday
