Salman Abubakar expressed confidence that nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba can secure a positive result against El-Kanemi Warriors in Sunday’s clash at the El-Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Abubakar, a former El-Kanemi midfielder, remains upbeat and believes Enyimba can overcome their setbacks to give supporters something to celebrate over the festive period.
“We are delighted to have arrived at Maiduguri safely, and the mood among the players is good. We are ready for the encounter on Sunday,” he said.
Reflecting on his ties to the host city, Abubakar added, “As a former player of Elkanemi, Henry Ndedi and I, we have a couple of friends in this great city, and we expect them to give us their support.”
He stressed that the team’s focus is firmly on the result.
“We are here in Maiduguri for a positive result, and God willing, we will work hard and with the support of our fans to get something tomorrow,” Abubakar said.
The matchday 18 encounter, scheduled for an early 3pm kick-off today, is set to be a keenly contested pre-Christmas fixture, with Enyimba seeking to build momentum as the first round of the season draws to a close.
It will be the 17th meeting between both sides in the top flight since 2013, with Enyimba holding the edge with eight wins, compared to four victories for El-Kanemi, while four previous encounters have ended in draws.
Despite their strong historical record, Enyimba travel to Maiduguri is hampered by defensive injuries.
Agu Samuel, Fabian Nwaorie and Joel Ezra are all sidelined, while defender Afolayan Peters will miss the match due to suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. Paul Odeh is also unavailable for family reasons.
The Lawrence Ukaegbul-led Aba side head into the fixture encouraged by their recent home performance against Kwara United and will be aiming to finish the first round of the league campaign on a high note despite the challenges they face.
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