Wolves pair for late trip to Tunisia

Azubuike Egwuekwe [pictured] and Josiah Maduabuchi are now expected to travel on Friday to team up with Warri Wolves ahead of Sunday's Caf Confederation Cup match against CA Bizertin in Tunisia.

Warri Wolves captain Egwuekwe was initially left out of the trip to Bizerte after he got married last weekend.

After pleas from the club's officials, the Nigerian international defender agreed to join the squad in Tunisia that had earlier travelled with 16 players, including just two centre-backs in Ike ThankGod and Oke Ogagotewho.

Maduabuchi, on the other hand, could not travel after Wolves had made an electronic ticket booking days before their trip to Tunisia and included two players who were not listed for the return leg in Bizerte by head coach, Paul Aigbogun.

Meanwhile, the Wolves contingent, now lodged at the Corniche Palace Hotel in Bizerte, have found themselves trying to cope with the weather conditions, according to a statement from the club.

The weather in Bizerte is currently around 12 degrees Celsius and Wolves had to reschedule their Wednesday training for Thursday due to rain.

"Warri Wolves Football Club arrived in Bizerte on Wednesday evening to very harsh weather as the team is staying in the Corniche Palace Hotel, situated by the sea, which has compounded the weather problem faced by the players.

"Apart from the harsh weather, the team could not train on Thursday morning because of a heavy downpour, but the coaches have decided to reschedule the training to 2pm," the statement from Wolves read on Thursday.

The club's CEO, Davidson Owumi, who made the trip to Bizerte with the team, has encouraged the players not to let the issues of the harsh weather and food affect their psyche.

"I want to thank all of you for your understanding and want you all to know that this is another psychological war which must be won as you can see that we are kept by the sea to make the weather worse for us. You can also see that the type of food we are given is nothing to talk about, but we must win this match for Nigerians. We will do our best to encourage you," Owumi told the players.

The CA Bizertin versus Wolves game will be held this Sunday and the Nigerian club will need to avoid a defeat of any kind but can progress with a win or a draw.

The first leg between both teams ended goalless in Warri last weekend.