Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba will face Rivers United in a rescheduled week 7 fixture of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL at the Enyimba International Stadium.
Enyimba will move into second place with a win while United will move up to joint third if they record a shock win at the Peoples’ Elephant’s home crowd.
Rivers United have lost just once all season, a 0-1 reverse against FC Ifeanyiubah on November 17 in Nnewi.
The Pride of Rivers will, however, face their toughest test of the season against an Enyimba side flying both domestically and on the continent.
Enyimba are riding the crest of a wave following Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Ivoirian club, San Pedro in the CAF Confederation Cup and head coach of the Aba club, Usman Abdallah expects United to make things ‘difficult’ for his side.
“This is a derby and it is going to be dicey,” Abdallah told newsmen ahead of the encounter.
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“They will come here and try to make it difficult for us, as usual, but we’ve already known (what they will do) and that is why we have been working hard,” he said.
Enyimba has a fearsome record at home. They have won all three games played at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba this season.
No team have scored more goals at home than Enyimba this season and the Aba club have won all three games played in the Commercial city this term.
Rivers United are however extremely solid away from home and have conceded just once on their travels this season.
United’s Technical Manager, Stanley Eguma is confident heading into Thursday’s contest.
“Enyimba is always strong especially when they play at home but we recall what happened when we met them in pre-season against them,” Eguma said.
“We dominated against them in Aba and they scored with a penalty in the 1-1 draw while we beat them in Port Harcourt.
“We know this Enyimba team very well and have perfected out tactics for the game,” he said.
United won on their last away trip in the league against Warri Wolves.
