Match Preview: AL Ahly Benghazi vs Enyimba FC

MATCH PREVIEW: AL AHLY BENGHAZI VS ENYIMBA FC

A 39th meeting between Enyimba and a North African club in a CAF Club Competition is on the horizon this midweek, and this time, it is the penultimate group A game for the two-time African champions.

The build-up to Enyimba’s matchday five clash against Ahly Benghazi has been dominated by travel talks, with Fatai Osho’s side risking a walkover because of difficulties in accessing the Maghreb country. However, those concerns have been laid to rest with the reigning Nigerian champions set to arrive and depart Libya on a chartered flight

ENYIMBA VS LIBYAN CLUBS

Enyimba have often enjoyed homecourt against Libyan oppositions, and this will be their first trip to the north African nation.

2011: Enyimba beat Al Ittihad 1-0 in Aba to progress to the next round (2nd Round CAFCL – return leg wasn’t played because of civil unrest in Libya)

2021: Enyimba defeated Ahly Benghazi 2-1 in Aba (Group Stage CAFCC)

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Enyimba have a slender edge over Benghazi in only their first meeting in Aba on matchday one. Goals from Austin Oladapo and Victor Mbaoma propelled the Elephants to a 2-1 win in the only previous meeting between both sides.

FORM (LAST 5 GAMES)

ENYIMBA FC – LWWLW

AHLY BENGHAZI – LDWLW

TEAM NEWS

Fatai Osho is still sweating over the fitness of long-term absentees Imoh Obot, Sadiq Abubakar and Hassan Abubakar. central defender Nelson Ogbonnaya and striker Samad Kadiri who picked knocks on matchday three have failed to recover in time, while Farouk Mohammed who served a one match suspension on matchday four, Victor Mbaoma, Dayo Ojo and Jean-Marie Guera add to the swelling injury list.

However, Stephen Manyo and Orok Gabriel make the trip having missed the fixture in Setif last weekend.

THOUGHTS

“We are approaching the crunch time now, we really need the points on the road to slow down our opponents and gain momentum of our own and put ourselves in a very good position to pick a ticket. Anything short of that in Benghazi will be a complete disaster. I can assure you that you will see a complete departure from what we experienced in Setif, in as much as there are little challenges, we will see what we can do to get a result.” – Fatai Osho

Enyimba are currently second in Group A with six points from four games, while Al Ahly Benghazi are placed third  with four points in as many matches.

The fixture is billed for 10pm (Nigerian time) on  Thursday April 22, at the 10,500 capacity Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.