Enugu battle for continental pride

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Feb 01, 2020. 12:00

Enugu Rangers will have nothing but pride to play for when they take on Al-Masry at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 21h00 CAT (GMT+2).

The Nigerian club’s 2019-20 Total CAF Confederation Cup campaign is all but over despite beating Pyramids FC 1-0 in Cairo last weekend.

A second-half strike from Ifeyani George spearheaded Enugu to an unlikely victory over the Group A leaders, but Al-Masry would deny them a place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over their own in Alexandria later that same day.

Saidou Simpore netted with four minutes of regulation time remaining as the Egyptian’s overcame a resilient FC Nouadhibou to duly deny Enugu the chance of booking their place in the quarter-finals of this season’s competition.

Enugu head into this weekend’s fixture in third place, having accumulated five points from an equal amount of matches.

Al-Masry are on nine points having won three of their five matches.

The Egyptian’s beat Enugu 4-2 in the reverse fixture played at Alexandria Stadium two months ago. Al-Masry were 4-0 up before two late goals in the final two minutes restored some respectability to the scoreline for the visitors.

Madagascar’s Andofetra Rakotojaona is set to officiate the encounter.