TotalCAFCC: Osho expects difficult 2nd leg with Rivers United

Enyimba FC head coach Fatai Osho says beating Rivers United in their second leg playoff round clash of the Total CAF Confederation Cup (TotalCAFCC) “is not going to be an easy task”.

Osho’s side have a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg game in Aba last Sunday and face their domestic rivals at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Cyril Olisema scored the only goal of the first leg but Enyimba must be wary of a Rivers United side that have won all their home games this season in all competitions.

“It is not going to be an easy task, we’re quite aware of that. Looking at the quality of our opponents and looking at what happened in the first leg, none of the team’s will be so sure of getting the ticket because the two teams looked equally matched,” Osho told the Enyimba website, enyimbafc.net

“We have to be honest with ourselves, coming in here, it won’t be an easy task but we want to be optimistic that we’ll scale this hurdle,” added the former Remo Stars head coach.

All eyes will be on Enyimba winger Anayo Iwuala (jersey Number 17) whom many have said to be the danger man for the People’s Elephant. Iwuala created the only goal in the first leg and already has four assists in the league this term.

Asked if he thinks there might be a special strategy by United to tame Iwuala, Osho says it is not going to be unexpected.

“That is quite possible looking at what he has been doing of late. He has been a handful for many clubs we’ve played of recent and any team will be looking at that direction of trying to tame him. That is something that is expected and we have been talking to him on that.

“He knows there could be attention drafted on him. He is a good player and he is doing very well right now and what he is experiencing is what all top class players do experience.”

Sunday’s match will kick off at 4pm Nigerian time with the winners on aggregate going into Monday’s draws of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.