TotalCAFCL: Enyimba line up friendlies for Merrikh test

Nigeria’s Total CAF Champions League (TotalCAFCL) representatives Enyimba FC have lined up two friendly games ahead of next week’s stern test against Al Merrikh of Sudan, reports www.aclsports.com

The People’s Elephant edged Burkina Faso Champions Rahimo FC 2-1 on aggregate to secure a place in the first round where they will face the Sudanese side for a place in the lucrative group stage of the competition.

With the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2020/21 season now unlikely to kick off this year, management of the team has now fixed two friendlies against top division teams to enable them prepare for the task in Omdurman.

www.aclsports.com gathered that Enyimba will face FC Ifeanyiubah at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium in Nnewi on Thursday as they begin their journey towards Sudan for the first leg first round clash on Wednesday.

The Fatai Osho led side will then face Warri Wolves at the Sports Complex of the Delta State Polytechnic in Ozoro 24 hours later in their second preparatory match ahead of the Merrikh encounter. Warri Wolves will play their home games in next season’s NPFL on that turf.

Both matches will come up on natural surfaces which are also as bumpy as the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman where Enyimba will slug it out with Al Merrikh next week.

After Friday’s game against Warri Wolves, Enyimba will then make a trip to Lagos from where they will depart to Sudan for their continental fixture.

Meanwhile, striker Victor Mbaoma has been ruled out of the game against Al Merrikh after he failed to recover from a knock he suffered during the game against Rahimo. The team disclosed on their official website on Tuesday afternoon that the striker will stay home for treatment in the hope of featuring in the return leg.