The Sun News On-line

Two time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba arrived Tunis, Tunisia late on Wednesday evening determined to clinch the ticket for the Champions league group stage.

A 46-man team of the People’s Elephant, which include 20 players , officials of the club and journalists, left Lagos by road for Benin Republic where they connected a special flight to Morocco, enroute Tunis.

Speaking with Daily Sunsport from Tunis, Club Chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu, disclosed that he made a special flight arrangement via Benin Republic because no flight connects Lagos and Tunisia direct and the earliest they can get a flight is Thursday, leaving less than 20 hours to kick-off time tomorrow (Friday).
He expressed optimism that the players are poised to douse the little glimpse of hope that the Tunisians have.

“Our players know what’s at stake and they have promised to even beat Club Africain at home,” Anyansi said. “It will be a tough match knowing fully well that they will be hostile to us; but we are used to such intimidation and dirty tricks from our African brothers. When they come to Aba we threat them like kings, giving them the best hospitality, but when we get to their countries they chastice us with snakes, lions and even swords. But we are not deterred.”

Enyimba defeated their hosts 5–1 in Aba penultimate Sunday and soccer buffs and analysts agree that the Aba warriors have the nerve and savvy to humiliate the Tunisians and book a place in the CAF Champions League money-spinning stage, a stage where every victory attracts $10,000.

The Tunisians have deplored all sort of dirty tricks to ensure that they beat the Nigerians, scoring more than four goals as the original referee from Ghana has been replaced by the CAF referees committee with an Egtptian.

But Anyansi said that his boys would rather die on the pitch on Friday rather than allow their hosts to win them let alone scoring four goals. “It does not matter where the referee comes from,” he said.
Enyimba have been highly impressive in their away matches in the qualifying round beating Dabbie Noirs of Congo 3–2 and walloped Simba Sports Club of Tanzania 3–0 at their backyard.