CAF: Enyimba Boss, Captain Confident Of Victory Against Orlando Pirates

by AnaedoOnline
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Enyimba head coach Fatai Osho insists his team is well prepared for Wednesday’s CAF Confederation Cup away clash against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.

Enyimba head coach Fatai Osho

Enyimba head coach Fatai Osho

The Peoples Elephant will look to build on their impressive 2-1 home win against Ahli Benghazi of Libya on matchday one when they come up against the Buccaneers at the 37,000 capacity Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Enyimba lost 1-0 to Pirates on their previous visit to the Orlando Stadium in 2006, but Osho insists things will be different this time around.

“Orlando Pirates play good football and move the ball quickly too, they can play their way out in difficult situations, their speed of play is in abundance as well; it is going to be a tough task but we are very prepared for this,” he told Enyimbafc.net

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The captain of the team, Austine Oladapo, who scored a superb goal against Ahli Benghazi is also upbeat they can beat their hosts.

“The game against Ahly Benghazi was a good game for us and a morale booster, the game has built our confidence and we will love to continue our winning run,” Oladapo told the club website

“The game is a big battle because whosoever wins goes top of the group, Pirates are a good side but we are here (South Africa) for a win.”

Enyimba will be boosted by the return of striker Tosin Omoyele who missed their last game in the competition due to suspension.

However, Sadiq Abubakar who also missed the opening group game will face a late fitness test ahead of the trip.

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says “it does not look good” for goalkeeper Richard Ofori, who has an undisclosed muscle injury ahead of Wednesday’s Caf Confederation Cup group A match against Enyimba at Orlando Stadium.

Ofori was taken off 15 minutes into the 0-0 draw against ES Setif last week in their group opener in neutral Accra and was replaced by Siyabonga Mpontshane.

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The Ghana vice-captain is now racing against time to be fit for the Enyimba match, but his coach is not painting an encouraging picture.

“I don’t have 100 percent information but it’s a muscle problem. I think it was bad, but we will get more information in the next few days, but it does not look good,” said Zinnbauer as per Phakaaathi.

The German tactician might, however, not be too worried about the goalkeeper’s possible absence as he has apt cover inexperienced the Wayne Sandilands and Mpontshane.

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Apart from Ofori, Zinnbauer is also facing the grim prospect of missing some infield players he did not name.

The coach has given an impression of an injury-hit camp affected by the Setif match.

“We have injured players and we get some players back, you saw Tshegofatso Mabasa came in, but we don’t have muscle problems, we have broken legs and swollen ankles,” Zinnbauer continued.

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Read Also: CAF: Enyimba Battle Orlando Pirates In Tricky Confederation Cup Game

“The ankles are a problem at the moment. We have a lot of players who have broken toes. It’s not a muscle problem or an intensity problem or even a conditioning problem. The problem is always in the duel.”

It is not yet clear if striker Zakhele Lepasa has returned from injury to boost Zinnbauer’s attacking options.

With Jean-Marc Makusu injured, Frank Mhango and Mabasa are the preferred choices to play up front.

The two, however, were on the bench against Setif with midfielder Linda Mntambo starting as a number nine before he was replaced by Mabasa, while Mhango sat out the match.

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Read Also: Fatai Osho Laments As Enyimba Crashed Out Of CAF Champions League

The status of star midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch is yet to be updated. Pirates are looking for their first win of this group.

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