CAFCL 2nd Prelim Round: Anyansi-Agwu Upbeat Enyimba Will Pip Al Hilal On Aggregate

Enyimba chairman Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu has told Completesports.com that he’s not losing sleep over the chances of the People’s Elephant advancing to the group stage of the CAF Champions League following their disappointing goalless draw with Al Hilal Omdurman in the Second Preliminary Round first leg in Aba.

Enyimba are expected to depart for Omdurman, Sudan on Friday ahead of their decisive second leg match on Sunday, September 29.

Anyansi-Agwu exudes confidence ahead of the decisive reverse fixture, saying Enyimba will progress to the group stage with a shock result against the Sudanese right in their back yard in Omdurman.

“It is unbelievable that we played the way we did, dominated the game from start to finish, created all the chances but still ended with a goalless draw in Aba,” Anyansi-Agwu who is also an executive committee member of Nigeria Football Federation told Completesports.com.

“Its one of the things that happen in football. It is not strange to it. But we will deal with it.

“This is the first leg match. We are going there to achieve a result Nigerians will be happy about. We are used to such difficult situations and have always come out in flying colours. This won’t be different.

Anyansi-Agwu added: “Nobody should cry for Enyimba. We know how to carry our own cross and we will certainly excel in Sudan.

“We’ve seen them [Al Hilal] play. Our backs are against the wall and we are surely going to respond. We haven’t reached the end of our (CAF Champions League) journey.”

Anyansi-Agwu

“It is a game of two halves, one has been played and the other half still remains. We will see how it goes.”

He says a scoreless draw in Aba is better than a score draw.

“No two matches are the same. Hilal were defensive in the first leg, ‘packing the bus’ as it were,” he continued.

“But on Sunday in Omdurman, they will open up, they will come out for attack.

“Every game is different and has its own approach. The important thing now is qualification and we will get the result that will see us through.
“I do not want anybody to feel sorry for us. We wanted to win [the first leg] but we did not, but our focus right now is qualification.

“Some times you can win a match at home and lose woefully away, but it is just a little more difficult and a little more challenging now, though we will remain focused and get the job done.

“This team will qualify, short and simple. We are preparing to get a (good) result there.

“We have been through it before and it will not be the last time.”

By Sab Osuji