FORMER Super Eagles star Finidi George made a successful debut as Enyimba’s head coach last night, leading them to a key win on the continent.
He steered the Aba side to a 1-0 victory over Senegalese club Diambars FC in Thies in the first leg of their second round CAF Confederation Cup tie.
Finidi joined Enyimba in September as replacement for Fatai Osho and is tasked with reviving the fortunes of the two-time African champions.
One of the first steps in the mission is to get the People’s Elephant into the CAF Confederation Cup group phase, and Sunday’s win got them on by their way.
Enyimba needed a late goal to subdue their hosts, with Cyril Olisema scoring from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Gabriel Orok was brought down in the Diambars box.
The players honoured their new boss by reprising his cheeky goal celebration at the USA 1994 World Cup when he imitated a peeing dog after scoring against Greece.
Enyimba had to survive serious pressure from the hosts before the late winner, and Finidi, a former UEFA Champions League winner as a player, will be pleased his side are taking the big advantage into the return leg in Aba.
If Enyimba avoid defeat in the second leg in ABA, they will progress to the group phase of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Nigeria’s other representatives in continental club competitions, Rivers United and Bayelsa United, will both be at home on Sunday as they seek to reach the group phases.
Rivers United host Sudan’s Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League, while AITEO Cup surprise winners Bayelsa United, who are still in the second-tier Nigeria National League, welcome tough customers CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in the CAF Confederation Cup.
