Enyimba feel weight of Nigerian expectations

Enyimba of Aba Manager, Usman Abdallah says the club is feeling the weight of expectation as Nigeria’s sole remaining representatives in the CAF Champions League.

The People’s Elephant secured progression into the first round of the top-tier continental tournament thanks to a 5-1 aggregate victory over Burkina Faso’s Rahimo in the preliminary phase.

This was in contrast to the other Nigerian club, Kano Pillars, entered in the Champions League for 2019/20. Masu Gida had the misfortune of succumbing 4-3 on aggregate to Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko.As the only Nigerian side left in the competition, Enyimba know that the eyes of the West African nation are upon them.

“We cannot say there is no pressure because it’s responsibility to have to do it for Nigeria,” Abdallah told Brilafm.“We have to do that and we have to meet the expectation and most of the time they are expecting us, we have to work hard to reach the target even though we are taking things one step at a time.”

Enyimba’s next challenge in the Champions League is to try and overcome Sudanese giants Al Hilal and claim a place in the group stage.The Nigerian club will host the first leg in Aba on the weekend of September 13 to 15, with the return game in Khartoum two weeks later.