Chapter 76 FIFA Club World Cup [1]

The FIFA Club World Cup is one of the most respected club tournaments in the world.It is a tournament that brings together the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations, plus a representative from the host nation.

This time, the host nation for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup was Saudi Arabia.

The format of the competition already undergone various changes over the years, but the typical structure remained the same.

There were only 7 competitors; the UEFA champions league winner from Europe, the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner from South America, the CAF champions league winner from Africa, the AFC champions league winner from Asia, the CONCACAF champions league winner from North America, the OFC champions league winner from Oceania, and the host nation's league champion.

For the first round of the competition, the host nation's representative plays against the champion of the OFC (Oceania).

In the second round, the winner of the first round joins the champions from CAF (Africa), AFC, (Asia), and CONCACAF (North America). Two knockout football matches are held at this stage to determine the progressors.

After the second round, the tournament ramps up straight to the semifinals where the winners of the second round meet the UEFA champions league winner and the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner who only enter at this stage.

The winners of the semifinals play in the final, while the losing teams compete in a third-place match for third place.

All matches in the FIFA Club World Cup are single-elimination matches. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and if necessary, penalties.

After more than 4 months of club football, the FIFA Club World Cup was finally organized, and it's first game was scheduled for December 11.

For Enyimba FC, it was a way to escape their current season troubles.

4 months into the season, the team was slowly coming back into shape, Austin already back from his injury, including Emeka, only Olisema remained out of the line-up as he suffered a serious groin injury.

Like usual, Coach Yemi Daniel did his homework for the tournament, providing the fixture updates to his players.

(FIFA Club World Cup!)

(First round:)

>Al-Ittihad – Auckland City<

>Date: 12 December, 2023<

By then, the Enyimba FC squad was already in Saudi Arabia as they acclimatized with the pitches where they would play against some of the best clubs across all the football-playing continents of the world.

Domestically in the league, Enyimba FC may be having an up and down season, but they were still the reigning African champions league winners.

In the hall of the hotel where they lodged, together alongside their coach, the Enyimba squad stayed and watched the first game of the club world cup.

Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club representing the host country started the tournament as they took on Auckland City, the reigning OFC champions league winners representing Oceania or better known as Australia.

In the first game of the tournament, Al-Ittihad showed the prowess of the home side, riding the momentum of the superior number of their fans that stayed supporting them as they dominated the game from the first minute, running Auckland City haggard by half-time.

Al-Ittihad went to half-time leading by 1 goal to nil, courtesy of an incredible team goal by their striker but the score line didn't reflect the reality on the pitch at all. Auckland City was thoroughly outplayed by the Saudi Arabian giants.

And when the second half started, the floodgates opened as the Saudi Arabian club doubled their lead shortly after restart before sealing the game 3-0 at the 70th minute of the game.

After that, they simply saw the game out against the toothless Auckland City.

The Oceania-based club meekly bowed out of the tournament direct from the first day, stealing headlines across the world.

Alongside his players and his analysts, Coach Yemi Daniel broke down and analyzed Al-Ittihad's performance, identifying their main strengths and weaknesses.

The Nigerian coach didn't just pay attention to the Saudi Arabian club out of leisure though. It was because if the Saudi team won, in the second round of the tournament, they were scheduled to play against Al-Ittihad.

He was already preparing for their first game of the tournament.

3 days later, the D-day for the second-round games arrived.

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(Second round:)

>Leon – Urawa Reds<

>Date: 15th December, 2023<

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>Enyimba FC – Al-Ittihad< Read the latest on empire

>Date: 15th December, 2023<

For the first game of the second round, Urawa Red Diamonds also known as Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club, a club from the city of Saitama, Japan, the current reigning AFC champions league winners were to take on the reigning CONCACAF champions, Lean from North America.

It was a game between two evenly ranked teams, and the rating were proved true due to the intense game that followed.

Determined to win the game and progress deeper into the semi-final of the tournament, both teams started with their best starting XI.

During the first few minutes of the game, Leon dominated, coming close to scoring a few times but Urawa Reds of Japan remained defensively disciplined, shutting their opponents out till they also forced their imprint on the game.

After the first 20 minutes of Leon domination, the game stabilized, becoming an even game as Urawa Reds finally started taking the battle to their opponents.

The first half was an intense affair of high-octane football as both teams went hard at each other, going back and forth. Both teams had their chances, but neither of them was clinical enough to take it.

The first half ended 0-0, a draw.

No outside figure knew what the coaches of both teams told their players during half-time, because once second half started, the players of both teams rushed out, playing with even more intensity and energy.

There were even more chances in the second half as the forwards feasted, penetrating into the defense constantly but failing at just the last moment.

And then, one of the 2 teams finally paid the price for their relentless energy.

After a reckless tackle on an Urawa Reds player, the Leon midfielder got a red card and that was the turning point of the game.

Leon changed their game plan, defending deep in their half after changes from their coach as Urawa Reds launched attacking raids after attacking raids in their box. Despite a valiant defensive performance, Leon faltered.

In the 81st minute of the game, Leon hearts around North America were shattered as Urawa Reds managed to sneak the ball into their net.

The first game of the second round ended 0-1 in Urawa Reds' favor.

The Japanese team progressed to the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The second qualified team would be decided between Enyimba FC, the Nigerian-based club and Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian giant.

FWEEEE!

The game started.