In a group stage match in the African Cup of Nations, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will play Zambia and encounter a former Maccabi Tel Aviv forward, Emmanuel Mayuka
After qualifying for the finals of the African Cup of Nations earlier this month, Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and his Nigerian team have discovered who will be their opponents in the group stages of the tournament that will begin on January 19th, 2013 in South Africa. Enyeama and Nigeria, who overcame Liberia in a two-leg encounter to earn their ticket to the finals, were drawn in a group that includes current holders Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. Playing against Enyeama in these group stage matches is a player familiar to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and also to Enyeama, who has played against him several times – Emmanuel Mayuka of Zambia.
Enyeama's first game with his team will be played against Burkina Faso on January 21st. Four days later they will play Zambia and then Ethiopia on January 29th. Maccabi Tel Aviv's goalkeeper will be hoping to return from South Africa with Nigeria's first African championship title since 1994. Helping Enyeama in this task are additional players on the Nigerian team who also play in the Israeli "Winner" League – defender Juwon Oshinawa of Ashdod FC and HaPoel Be'er Sheva's goalkeeper, Austine Ejide.
While Enyeama and Nigeria play in the finals of the African Cup of Nations, Maccabi Tel Aviv will play against Ashdod FC and HaPoel Acre in the "Winner" League. If his team reach the quarter finals, Enyeama will also miss the game against Hapoel Ramat Gan on February 2nd. And if they reach their first finals since 2000, Enyeama may miss the second Tel Aviv Derby of the season against Hapoel Tel Aviv on February 9th.
