Enyimba head coach Finidi George says the team’s objective going into every game is always to win and hopes his side will be at their best when they face Libyan side Al Ittihad in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup playoff match.
As earlier reported https://aclsports.com/caf-postpone-al-ittihad-v-enyimba-game/, the first leg clash between the two sides did not hold last weekend because of Enyimba’s inability to gain entry into Tunisia. So the earlier scheduled second leg game will now come up as the first leg encounter of this fixture in Aba tomorrow.
While speaking ahead of the game, George says his team’s approach to the game will be to win and try not to concede to the Libyans in front of their home support.
“We always play to win; that is our first option. So, it seems like we will play the first game here in Aba. We will do all we can to make sure that we win the game. The aim of this game should be to win,” said George at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
“First and foremost, we have to think about winning and if that is not possible, don’t lose the game because it is a two-legged game. We will try to get the best result here at home and that’s what we are going to do on Sunday.”
On Sunday’s opposition, the 50-year-old tactician believes, for them to have won the league, they are a good side and they would not be underrated when they take to the pitch to face them.
“There is no weaker team in CAF competitions. This team won their league in Libya. So you can rule them out and say they are a weaker side. I know that the Tunisian side (Esperance) that qualified against Bayelsa United, maybe they are a better side, I don’t know but from my own experience when you qualify or win the league in your country that makes you a better team, you must have gone through a lot to have won the league. So, we would not underrate any team. This team is a good team and I have seen them play.”
He added: “We will come up with a strategy that will enable us to match them up and have a better day. [As regards formation] we all know football, you attack, you defend. Just get that right balance and make sure you don’t concede a goal and that’s what we try and do on Sunday and hopefully, we will have the day.”
With Strikers Victor Mbaoma and Tosin Omoyele, who both scored in the previous round against Diambars in Aba, are likely to miss the tie, George is confident others will be able to fill in for them.
“[on Mbaoma] we will conduct a test on him and see if he is fully fit for the game on Sunday. For Tosin, due to the Covid problem he had, he is still in Morocco; so he is out. But I will say we still have other players that can fill in for them. We have a very large and strong squad. “
Sunday’s game will kick off at 3:30pm (Nigerian time) at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.
