CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba drops Ezenwa, Ibenegbu for Raja game
Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu were among the high profile players that failed to make the 18-man squad that traveled to Morocco on Monday along with Enyimba for their return leg of the semi-final fixture of the CAF Confederation Cup slated on Wednesday with Raja Casablanca.
Ezenwa was on the bench when the People’s Elephant were beaten 1-0 by Raja in the first leg of the encounter decided at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba but he came on in place ofTheophilus Afelokhai who sustained a hamstring injury in the second half.
He has however been omitted in the squad to Morocco with his place taking up by Fatau Dauda who will serve as cover up to Afelokhai in Casablanca.
A source in the camp of Enyimba disclosed to SportingLife.ng that Ezenwa lost his place to Dauda because of his trip with the Eagles to Libya.
The goalkeeper only returned to training last Thursday to Aba as against the Ghanaianshot-stopper who has been consistent in camp for the past two weeks.
The regulars like Andrew Abalogu, Ikouwem Udotin, Ifeanyi Anaemena, Isiaka Oladuntoye, Austin Oladapo, Stanley Dimgba, Ibrahim Mustapha, Wasiu Alalade, Stephen Chukwude, Sunday Adetunji, Chinedu Udeagha all made the trip to Morocco.
Ernest Governor and Nelson Ogbonnaya were also on the plane to Casablanca where Enyimba will be seeking to overturn a 1-0 home loss to Raja on Wednesday in Casablanca.
The last time the People’s Elephant were in such similar situation was in 2004 in the CAF Champions League second round tie with Petro Atletico of Angola. Enyimba were held to a 1-1 draw in Aba but they beat their hosts 2-1 in Luanda to qualify 3-2 on aggregate.
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The then Felix Okey Emordi led team went ahead to win the competition bybeating Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the final.