Enyimba Coach, Stanley Eguma, is still optimistic that his team can still qualify for the quarterfinals of the ongoing CAF Confederation Cup even when the statistics does not support his belief.
Enyimba lost their opportunity to cement their place in the last eight when they only managed a 1-1 draw with Egypt’s Al Masry in Uyo on Sunday.
This season, the 2003 and 2004 African champions have not won any of their away games in the group stage of the competition. Their last group game is against Zamalek of Egypt, who have not lost any of their games at the Cairo International Stadium.
Zamalek has 11 points from five games to top Group D, Al Masry are second with six points, while Enyimba are third with five points, with Mozambique’s Black Bulls last on four points.
To get the second quarterfinals ticket in Group D, Enyimba must beat Zamalek in Cairo, while praying that Black Bulls will upset Al Masry at the Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt.
Many followers of African football believe that such cannot happen.
But Eguma will have none of it. Speaking after Sunday’s game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, Eguma said his team is improving by the game, adding that they know what to do to get the necessary result against Zamalek, who held Enyimba to a 2-2 draw when they met in Uyo.
He said: “It was really unfortunate we couldn’t win the game. We trained very hard and mapped out strategies to beat the opponents. Unfortunately, they came to play the games of their lives.
“Our players respected them so much, especially in the first half. We were lethargic in our approach, and that caused the early goal we conceded. That goal demoralised us so much and most of these players have not played at this level.
“It’s not the end of the game. We will still have the next game to play. If Al-Masry can come here and play the game of their lives, we can go to Egypt, and who knows what the outcome of the other games will be. We are still optimistic; it is not over until it is over.”
Both Group D’s last games of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup will hold on January 19 in Egypt.
