Ahli are tipped as favorites to reach the CAF Champions League final but Enyimba are in no mood to surrender their right of going for a win against the much more fancied opponents. The Red Devils held the Nigerians to a goalless draw in Aba in the first-leg of the competition's semi-final. The result seemed to be a satisfying one for Ahli, who aim to reach the elite competition's final for the fourth consecutive season. However, Enyimba remain confident that the final spot is still up for grabs. "Can Enyimba win? Yes, we can," their coach Maurice Cooreman told the club's official website. "We have a real solid team that can win at home as well as away. We are not afraid of anyone. We just have to be focused throughout the game. "It is up to the players to prove people wrong and qualify for the final. I believe in them, and everybody in the club believes in them." Youngster Stephen Worgu, who attracted a host of suitors after scoring 13 goals in the Champions League this season, was even more confident about Enyimba's chances. "I know we won't lose to them in Egypt. A 0-0 result is not bad for us; we knew what we were doing," he told Kick off Nigeria. Enyimba have a point. In the 2007 final, Ahli fans prematurely celebrated a third successive Champions League triumph when the Cairo giants held Etoile Sahel to a goalless draw in Tunisia. But Etoile's never-say-die attitude saw them stun Ahli 3-1 in the second leg as they were unaffected by Cairo stadium's intimidating atmosphere.
Worgu confident over Enyimba chances "Ahli are not from heaven. They are football team just like any other and my boys will not be intimidated by their names or presence," Enyimba chairman Felix Anyansi Agwu said. Ahli will heavily rely on experience when they host Enyimba on Saturday night. Their current squad boasts a number of players who formed the backbone of Ahli's team that won two back-to-back Champions League titles in 2005 and 2006. The likes of Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Flavio Amado, Shadi Mohamed and Gilberto contributed to Ahli's glorious achievements in the Dark Continent. But Enyimba have no shortage of experience either. The People's Elephant claimed two successive Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004, overcoming two powerful teams in Ismaili and Etoile. Tactical Battle Enyimba, five-time Nigerian champions, are confident that they can be tactically superior over Ahli. They believe that Ahli's expected desire to kill the game would take its toll on their display. "The second leg will be more open because Ahli know they must attack to win and I am sure we will capitalize on it," the 19-year-old Worgu said. Enyimba's assistant coach Austin Eguavoen couldn't agree more. "They will try to attack because they are playing at home," the former Nigeria caretaker coach said. "That will open up the game and from there, anything is possible."
