Good morning Guys,

Finally guys, the big day is here. We play Smouha Sporting Club of Egypt this evening at 4pm for a chance into the next round of the 2015 CAF Champions League.

We head into this one, full of confidence and buoyed by the fact that all our boys are back and are in the team. Our start to the season has hardly been emphatic but it has been effective nonetheless. We are yet to concede a goal from open play. We overturned Buffles both in Aba and in Benin Republic and our first leg against Smouha should have been similar but for our poor finishing. Today, we have an opportunity to skip over the hurdle of a team we know we are capable of beating.

Like in yesterday's post, we listed five reasons why we should go through. And a draw of any sort, 1-1, 8-8, 12-12 will surely see us through. Our experience should come in handy in this kind of game. even if they scored first, we should not panic but simply go to the other end and score too, they will need to score two more to progress which looks hardly if not impossible. But then, we can spare them that kind of trouble if we keep it tight and not even let them score. That way, their Champions League quest will end in 90 minutes and we progress to the next round.

How should Kadiri Ikhana approach this game? Should he go all defensive and hope to play on the break? Or should he go all Attack from the first minute? The manner he sets up the team and the personnel he prefers could tell us but one thing I think is most vital is that we maintain our focus and discipline all through this one. Those will be key.

We have a full house except Chijioke 'Arugo Monkey' Ejiogu who pulled out of training on Tuesday courtesy of a reoccurring shoulder injury. Even midfielders Sikiru Kamal and Chima Uluocha all made the trip. So the expected line up should be;

Femi Thomas, Idris Aloma, Chinedu Udoji, Emma Anyanwu, Markson Ojobo, Chima Uluocha, Sokari Kingsley, Ezekiel Bassey, Peter Onyekachi, Chinonso Okonkwo, Daniel Etor.

I'm thinking Ojobo ahead of Esieme because of the former's experience. I'm also going Bassey ahead of Abalogu because of the pace of the former Akwa United man. But of course the ultimate selection lies with the manager who knows the players and their fitness and of course their capabilities in these kinds of games.

For coverage, we will scout online for streams but if we are not successful then we will depend on the club's official handle for the live updates.

We should not just go thru, we will not lose this one.

'EnyimbaEnyi

Culled from www.thatenyimbafan.com

Pride of the Nation will surely win.

Should be a tough game but we will go thru...

Good luck to Enyimba.

Enyimba enyi! Nzogbu!

ThatEnyimbaFan

Game on!!

Enyimba Starting XI: Femi Thomas, Idris Aloma, Bright Esieme, Chinedu Udoji, Emma Anyanwu, Sikiru Kamal, Peter Onyekachi, Chinonso Okonkwo, Ezekiel Bassey, Daniel Etor

Enyimba Starting XI: Thomas, Esieme, Aloma, Sikiru, Anyanwu, Udoji, Bassey, Okonkwo, Onyekachi, Sokari and Daniel Etor

Substitutes: Ocheje, Anaemena, Abalogu, Ojobo, Nzube, Boumsoung and Uluocha

15' Substitution: A forced change for us as an injured Ezekiel Bassey is replaced by Andrew Abalogu. Smouha 0-0 Enyimba

Injury forces a change, just like at Buffles, Abalogu replaces Ezekiel Bassey. Sounds like Buffles all over. Smouha 0-0 Enyimba

Enyimba le ndi oma eji e me onu.

17' Save! Smouha with a chance from the edge of the area but a great save from Femi denies the home team. Smouha 0-0 Enyimba

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi inside the Alexandria Stadium as Enyimba confront Smouha in CAF CL first round, second leg.

20' Smouha finally hit the back of the net! But it won't count. Offside

25' | 0-0 | The Egyptians continue to press and come close again but this time it's off to the right of Femi's goal.

30' | 0-0 | Yellow card for Andrew Abalogu for a foul as the tempo of the game reduces slightly #SmouhaEnyimba

Still scoreless. Live pic from the stadium

39' Another great save from Femi Thomas!

43' | 0-0 | Yet another effort on our goal and again Femi saves. Our defenders aren't clearing their lines.

HT: | 0-0 | A fiery first half comes to an end. A half in which Femi Thomas stood firmly between us and Smouha to maintain our agg. lead.

Mukina2 were art thou?
honeric01 nko

And we are off for the second half! | 0-0 |

55' | 0-0 | Smouha are throwing everything they have at us.

A moment of worry for Ikhana as Daniel Etor is stretched off following a crunch tackle, but he is back on his feet and ready to go back in.

58' And we almost take the lead! Sokari Kingsley with a fine shot but it is punched clear by the Smouha keeper. | 0-0 |

60' Substitution: Daniel Etor cannot carry on after that tackle. He's replaced by Raphael Boumsong

62' Substitution: Etor for Boumsong....Chinonso Okonkwo moves to the right. Smouha 0-0 Enyimba

Amazing how Kadiri Ikhana insists on playing his two strikers despite we being away. Last season he would have played five defenders. Attack is the best form of Defence.

We go close again! This time it's off target. | 0-0 |

Less than 20 mins to go

Less than 20 minutes to go....Smouha 0-0 Enyimba (0-1) Aggregate.

70' | 0-0 | Sokari Kingsley has been sent off for a second bookable offense! We are down to ten men, but not down in spirit!