What is at stake as Enyimba battle Rivers United

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Is it beyond the game?

By Bunmi Blair




Enyimba of Aba will on St Valentine's day battle Rivers United of PortHarcourt in the first leg playoffs round of the this season's CAF confederation cup. What exactly is at stake?

It is more than a game. It is Biafra vs Niger Delta aka war on the coast!
I was surprised with the way my core Igbo tribe colleagues have taken this game. Was trying to convince a few of them that Rivers United are as experienced as Enyimba when it comes to continental football. They wouldn't have any of it, rather they told me the story of my life, even reminded me how I was born. Hahahaha!

Up till now, it is a generally accepted secrete in the NPFL that Enyimba are the richest club in the land. But their billionaire status is being challenged. Wike's money(Beat Enyimba get 20million naira) even makes things more interesting, there is a new billionaire in town. Coupled with the perceived injustice melted out to Rivers with PPG thing...

Tactically, it is Stanley Eguma vs Fatai Osho, it is a battle between the old and the new order, pragmatism vs flair, experience vs developer. This could well define how well Nigerian coaching has developed in the last 10 years.

If Eguma wins, this could open the door of a national team return in the nearest future. A loss for him over the two legs may as well put a nail in the coffin of his national ambition at least for now.
It is widely believed Eguma only keeps his job at Rivers because of who he knows and not what he knows.

No doubt Enyimba vs Rivers United CAF confederation cup match is the star match of the season so far and it could have far reaching effects on the future of the game in the most populous black nation of the world.

The second leg comes up a week from now in PortHarcourt. The winner over the two legs will qualify for the group stage of the competition.

🤝🏾

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