Flying Eagles captain and Enyimba International left back Ikouwem Udoh has set his sights on returning the Aba-based side to continental competition and ensuring they win a trophy at the end of the upcoming 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Udoh was a mainstay at left back and won rave reviews as the Aba Elephants made a run to the semi-final of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup (CCC) losing to eventual winners Raja Casablanca and was also crucial for the Flying Eagles as they qualified for the African Under 20-Cup of Nations in the Niger Republic where they face Niger Republic, South Africa and Burundi in the group stages.
The player who was also part of the U-20 squad to the West African Football Union (WAFU) championships in Togo in December says he wants to win “a very nice trophy” for club and country.
“I will make sure that we qualify to go back to the continent and as a player at least I want to win a very nice trophy for my team and here in the national team, we are preparing for the AYC and I believe God will make us to qualify and win the cup for the nation,” he told busybuddiesng.com.
With the NPFL finally set to kick off on Sunday 13, January following a seven month hiatus, Udoh who was named best young player in Nigeria at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Awards in 2018 and was also part of the home-based Eagles squad to the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN) in Morocco says there is an opportunity now for Nigeria’s top flight to be aligned with the major leagues in Europe.
“For me I want the league to start so that we can cope up with Europe standard,” the 18 year old said, “at least if the league starts this 13th, this Sunday it will be better for us so that before June/July everything will end so that we will start together with Europe and make everything rhyme.”
Seven-time champions, Enyimba kick off their season at home at the Enyimba Stadium Aba to Mountain of Fire and Miracles FC (MFM FC) on Sunday 13, January 2019.
