Enyimba of Aba have the pleasure of welcoming a referee that is very familiar with Nigeria and appears to bring the country luck in major soccer matches, which footballlive.ng has learnt The Peoples’ Elephant hope will continue in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg against Rayon Sport of Rwanda.
This comes after Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointed 42-year old Egyptian official, Ghead Grisha as the centre referee for Sunday’s clash at the refurbished Enyimba Stadium in Aba.
Enyimba and Rayon Sports played a goalless draw in the first leg at Stade National Nyamirambo in Kigali last Sunday; leaving the tie delicately poised for a winner takes all on Sunday in Aba.
Grisha, an elite FIFA badged referee for the past ten years has been a lucky charm for Nigeria’s senior national team in recent years.
Grisha was in charge of two of Nigeria’s qualification games for this year’s FIFA World Cup Russia, both of which were won by the Super Eagles.
On his last visit to Nigeria, Grisha officiated in the Eagles’ 4-0 victory over Cameroon in September in Uyo, a year after he was in charge of Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Zambia in Ndola.
On his last assignment with Enyimba eleven years ago, Grisha saw The Peoples’ Elephant lose 1-0 against Wydad Casablanca at Mohammed V Stadium in the 2011 CAF Champions League semi-final first leg.
Grisha will be assisted by his foremost assistants Mahmoud Ahmed Abo El Regal and Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer both from Egypt in Sunday’s encounter scheduled for 2pm local time in Nigeria.
The officials and match commissioner from Zambia are expected to arrive Lagos on Friday before their onward movement to Aba.
