Enyimba will square up with Djoliba in the opening match of the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup Group C fixture.
The People’s Elephant will be seeking to commence the competition with a home win and also help avenge the defeat suffered by MFM to the Malians in the play-off round of the same club competition.
Paul Aigbogun’s men may be new in Africa’s second-rated club competition but the experience they have garnered playing in the Caf Champions League will be of tremendous help at the UJ Esuene Stadium on Sunday.
It was their experience that saw them through in the qualifiers for the group stage where they resisted strong overtures of Energie FC and Bidvest Wits who tried everything in their arsenal to upset the form book.
They will need to be more forceful against Djoliba if they are to begin their quest for a place in the quarter-final on a good note.
Enyimba have the quality to hurt the 2012 Caf Confederation Cup losing finalists but they must not allow complacency to set in if they do not want to increase the misery of Nigerian clubs who have suffered defeat to the Malian club in the past.
The former African champions won’t be able to call on their inspirational midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu who is out with a knee injury but they have other players like Stanely Dimgba, Austin Oladapo, Chinonso Okonkwo, among others to rely upon to get the needed goals that will put their campaign in the competition on the right track.
On the other hand, Djoliba must put up a commendable performance not to be rated as outsiders against Enyimba in Calabar.