Enyimba of Aba goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa will not be in goal for the club in Wednesday’s CAF Confederation Cup second leg semi-final clash away to Raja Casablanca of Morocco.
Footballlliove.ng gathered that Ezenwa was not even included in The Peoples’ Elephants’ squad for the game, as he was is said to have returned late from appearing with the Super Eagles against Libya.
Information from Enyimba’s camp reveals that Enyimba rejoined his club mates on Thursday, two days after Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifier away to Libya in Sfax, Tunisia.
However, officials at Enyimba reckoned he did not have enough time to settle down with the squad and blend with tactics for their reverse fixture against Raja Casablanca, hence the decision to leave the former FC Ifeanyiubah of Nnewi shot-stopper out.
Ezenwa’s place in the squad was taken over by Ghanaian net minder, Fatau Dauda, who had earlier this season lost his place due to injury, only to end up facing disciplinary action from the club as well.
Dauda had initially been suspended by the club for allegedly dodging their round of 64 match against Alabelewe FC in the Federation Cup, but recently returned and has remained consistent in training since.
Dauda regained his stand while Ezenwa was away in the national camp, and only returned to training on Thursday, which was only four days to their trip to Casablanca.
Throwing light on the development, Enyimba coach, Usman Abdallah said Dauda spent more time with the team in training and the form he showed in those sessions gave him an edge over Ezenwa.
Abdallah added: “It was difficult for Ezenwa to break into the team after the periods Dauda has stayed with us since his apology was accepted by the management of the club at my request.
“Dauda has shown tremendous progress since he resumed with the club and it was a unanimous decision to pick him ahead of other goalkeepers along with (Theophilus) Afelokhai.”
