Enyimba beat Egyptian side Smouha 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League round-of-32 on Sunday.
On their Champions league debut, Smouha made it to this stage after edging out Libya’s Ahli Tripoli on penalties in the preliminary round.
In Aba, Smouha deployed the same tactics that saw them triumph over Ahli – soak up pressure while defending in unit and hope for a draw. The game plan then changes in Alexandra where they expect to win by any means necessary.
But they eventually caved in from Enyimba’s sustained pressure in the 55th minute after Raphael Boumsong headed in Nonso Okonkwo’s cross.
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But before then, it was the visitors who almost took the lead in the 46th minute when Amr Elmen beat Enyimba’s captain Chinedu Udoji, but he wasted his effort with the keeper at his mercy.
Smouha, who qualified for the Champions League after snatching the league’s second spot from Zamalek last season, have no other choice but to win by two clear goals when they host the Nigerians in the return leg in Egypt.
But the two-time African champions Enyimba are no stranger to the antics of the game at this level.
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