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By: Abiodun Adewale
Assistant coach of Enyimba, Yemi Olanrewaju, said it will be good for the club to have the head coach George Finidi and goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo back in the team even as they strive to get results in their absence, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Finidi and Ojo are currently on international duty with Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. The coach is serving as one of the assistants of Jose Peseiro while the goalkeeper is the only Nigeria Premier Football League player in the country’s 25-man squad.
They are both potentially unavailable for the club’s duties till February 11, when the final of the AFCON, which began on Saturday, will be played.
Following their 1-0 loss to Plateau United in Jos on Saturday, Olanrewaju admitted the impact of both men to the club’s ambition is huge.
“Yes, it’s always good when they are around. Coach Finidi and I have gone beyond a coach and his assistant, we are like brothers.
“Once the captain is back, he will motivate the players as well because he’s the leader,” the coach said.
The duo could miss four more games for Enyimba and Olanrewaju also noted that the nine-time champions have built a template for getting results
“But we have a model that we play, whether they are around or not. This is not the first time they are away on international duty. Even during the qualifiers, when they were not here against Lobi and Akwa United, we got the job done.
“For us, we want them around because they are an important part of us and leaders of the team. But if they are not, we continue pushing and doing the job,” he added.
With two outstanding games, Enyimba are fifth in the table and three points adrift of the top spot with 29 points from 16 games.
Nigeria are seeking a fourth continental title in Ivory Coast and began their challenge with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
