Venue: Enyimba International Stadium Aba
Date: Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Time: 14:00 GMT+
Enyimba coach Usman Abdallah has said the People’s Elephant are ready to face three-time CAF Champions League winners Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals in Aba on Wednesday.
Raja scored four times in away ties in the group stages and scored twice at CARA Brazzaville as they defeated the Congolese side 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Their 22-year-old striker Mahmoud Benhalib has scored 11 goals so far in the competition.
Raja met Enyimba in the 2011 CAF Champions League, with the Nigerians beating them 2-0 in Aba before securing a goalless draw in Casablanca.
Abdallah told our correspondent that the clash would be tough but said the seven-time Nigerian league champions would be up to the task on Wednesday.
“Raja are a top side in Africa and they have a rich continental history and experience. They play good and compact football but we are not scared of playing them,” he said.
“To be the best on the continent, one has to play against the best and tough teams. When we beat Rayon Sport, we knew the semi-finals won’t come easy, so we started preparations long ago.
“North African sides are always tough for West African teams because most of their players play together for a longer time and most of them find their way into their national teams – so they give their opponents a tough time.” We are not focusing on a particular player rather we will play our game and get the result we need at home.”
