Football
Elijah Akanni: Enyimba Facing 'No Pressure' in CAF Confederation Cup Title Race, Praises Kanu Nwankwo’s Influence
Elijah Akanni says Enyimba is under no pressure in the CAF Confederation Cup race, praising Nwankwo Kanu’s positive influence as a ‘father figure’ at the club. Enyimba aims for their first African title since 2004.
Image Credits: Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Elijah Sodiq Akanni asserts that Enyimba is not feeling any pressure in their quest to win the CAF Confederation Cup, despite the high expectations from Nigerian fans.
The midfielder was instrumental in the People’s Elephant's victory over Burkina Faso giants Etoile Filante in the Second Round, securing their spot in the competition’s group stage.
Yemi Olanrewaju's team is striving for their first African title since 2004, carrying the weight of expectations from Nigerians who hope to see the relatively young and inexperienced squad maintain their strong performance, having previously ruled Africa twice.
However, Akanni is confident that the Enyimba squad can manage the increasing expectations due to their depth of talent, though he cautions that victory will require a tough fight.
“We know we are in the business stage of the competition where the competition gets stiffer as we are competing with the teams that came out on top in the preliminary stages of the competition,” he told SportsBoom.com.
“Regardless, we believe we are equal to the task and God-willing, we’ll qualify for the knock-out stage and hopefully challenge for the big prize.”
“It is normal for Nigerians and the world at large to expect so much from the us because we had won the bigger CAF Champions League on two occasions.”
“We can hear the plea of our brothers and sisters, and we are working tirelessly to get the desired result, however, this would not come easy.”
The draw for the Confederation Cup group stage will be hold on October 7 on Cairo, with the 16 winners of the second round of qualifiers drawn into four groups of four.
The Confederation of African Football has seeded teams based on their performances in CAF competitions over the past five seasons.
Enyimba have been placed in Pot 3 alongside Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf, Algeria’s CS Constantine, Angola’s Bravos do Maquis and Lunda Sul, Botswana’s Orapa United, Mozambique’s Black Bulls, and South Africa’s Stellenbosch.
Legendary Nwankwo Kanu a ‘father figure’ at Enyimba
Akanni regards Nigeria and Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu as a 'father figure' at Enyimba, not just for his accomplishments as a footballer but also for his managerial skills with the Nigeria Professional Football League team.
The two-time African Player of the Year was appointed chairman of the Peoples’ Elephant by the Abia State Government in July 2023, ending Felix Anyansi-Agwu's 24-year tenure.
Kanu's appointment elicited a range of reactions; while some questioned his administrative skills and experience for such an important role, but the Enyimba no. 10 claims that his presence has been a tremendous blessing.
“The legend, Nwankwo Kanu is a father to us,” he added. “He has brought in his wealth of experience in the game and it has affected us positively.”
“You can see the quality of teams some of our players have signed for at the end of last season. Also, all the big players in the NPFL now want to play for us, or is it the influx of top brands you want to talk about?”
He is big blessing for us and no doubt, he has made a positive impact on us in all ramifications.
Elijah Akanni
Enyimba remain strong amid players exodus
As of August 2024, Super Eagles goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke, along with Anthony Okachi and Chijioke Mbaoma, were among the 13 players who departed from Enyimba.
Even so, Akanni believes the team has quality replacements capable of helping the club compete for titles across all competitions.
He stated: “It was tough to see some of the key players in the squad last season go. The good thing is that they’ve been replaced by capable hands.”
“It’s good to see that the new players have proven to be top professionals by adapting to our style of play in no time and giving their best.”
“The driving force is our mantra “your next game has to be better than the previous one. What is better than a win? We can only get better. The support from the management has also been immense.”
“We finished third in the NPFL last season, and we are only looking at doing better this time around.”
Shina Oludare is a notable Nigerian sports journalist and writer recognized for his extensive coverage of African sports. He has made significant contributions to the field through his work with reputable media outlets such as Goal.com and Soccernet. Known for his insightful analysis and comprehensive reporting, Oludare covers a wide range of topics within African football, including domestic leagues, national teams, and emerging talents. His work includes detailed player profiles, match previews and reviews, and transfer news, providing valuable insights into the intricacies of the sport on the continent.