For a team that won the NPFL last season, winning the CAF Confederations Cup this season will be laudable. The People’s Elephant is apparently getting a mention in CAF competitions due to their consecutive impressive displays in 2003 and 2004 seasons of the CAF Champions League but has recently not been enjoying stellar times in either the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederations Cup.
Although, Enyimba is not the only Nigeria contingent to be struggling on the continent. MFM, Enugu Rangers, Lobi Stars, and some other Nigerian club sides are in the same boat on the continent. This means every Nigerian club side have been poor as far as the CAF competitions are concerned recently.
Slot allocation in CAF competitions is a function of a 5-year cumulative performance of a Nation’s representatives in the CAF club competition and after series of ignominious displays by Nigerian clubs on the continent, Nigeria’s four slots in CAF competitions was reduced to two in 2017 to make way for more serious teams from other African nations in the two competitions.
But right after Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers made it to CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively, the decision by CAF to reduce Nigeria’s slot was rescinded and Nigeria began to have her four slots back. However, things cannot be said to have changed positively for Nigerian clubs on the continent.
SECOND HALF | FC San Pédro – Enyimba FC 2-5 #TotalCAFCC #FCSPEFC pic.twitter.com/ZSnaRpTv0f
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 2, 2020
This season has been a combination of hot and cold as we’ve seen Enugu Rangers getting kicked out of the CAF Confederations Cup with a game in hand having failed to get the desired result against FC Nouadibou, Pyramids and Al Masry. While Enyimba, on the other hand, made it through the next round of the competition seeing off threats from San Pedro, AC Paradou and HUSA.
As the Nigerian Champion gets set to scale the hurdles of the knock-out stages of the CAF Confederations Cup, we consider some reasons why Enyimba must clinch the much-coveted cup for the first time.
Enyimba Becomes Relevant If They Win
Why some Northern Clubs on the Continent have enjoyed some amazing moments in African Football is partly because of their dominance on the continent for years and their consistency to keep up with the terrain of African Football. Clubs like Al-Ahly of Egypt, Raja Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca have at some point ruled the African scene and still haven’t stopped getting mentions from many lovers of African football.
NPFL Will Get More Respect From International Organisations
Many Nigerians are most times not happy when some international bodies give the NPFL a hype or ranked higher than some leagues in Africa. But sincerely, Nigerian League deserves every hype it gets and it validates the fact that The NPFL has many qualities; just that the way it’s been run by its administrators is questionable and laughable. But it can only get better if handled properly.
Fatai Osho Will Forever Be Respected and Remembered by Enyimba Fans
Fatai Osho seems set to take the Enyimba job on a permanent deal should the chance present itself. The former Remo Stars manager is yet to record a win on the homefront but has guided the Nigerian champions to 2 wins in 3 outings on the continent since his announcement as the stand-in manager for the club. Winning the CAF Confederations Cup will be a huge feat for a manager who sometimes ago was managing an NNL team and will further enhance his CV going forward.
