Former African Champions, Enyimba International of Aba, over the weekend rekindled Nigeria’s hope of winning the elusive CAF Confederation Cup when they stunt their host San Pedro of Ivory Coast 5 – 2 at Stade Houphouet-Boigny in a very decisive match.
The people’s Elephant as Enyimba are known, were propelled by former Akwa United striker, Victor Mboama, Abdulraham Bashir, Augustine Oladapo and Stanley Dimgba’s second half beauty to decimate San Pedro to qualify for the quarter finals of the competition. Enyimba had to shrugg off their disappointing result against Hassania Agadir of Algeria in their last home game at Aba when they came from behind to pull a one all draw. Enyimba swung into action immediately against their host when they scored two goals in quick succession to keep their next round hope alive.
Two goals in the opening three minutes through Bashir and Mbaoma put the people’s elephants in a comfortable position and in the driving seats before the hosts reduced the deficit through Nigeria-born Cote d’Ivoire International Sherif Jimoh.
In a goal-laden first half, Augustine Oladapo restored Enyimba’s two-goal lead in the 25th minutes before Ivie Zan Bi got San Pedro’s second goal on the stroke of half time. Nonetheless, Enyimba International were guaranteed victory when Victor Mbaoma and Stanley Dimgba made it 4th and 5th goals respectively to cruise to an unassailable victory in Abidjan. This triumph over San Pedro has seen Enyimba of Aba through to the quarter finals of the Championship at the expense of AC Paradou who had defeated Hassania Agadir 3 – 0. Enyimba finished Group D as runners up with 10 points from six matches.
In the same vein, Nigeria’s 2nd representatives in the competition, Enugu Rangers International were held to 1 – 1 draw by visiting Al-Masry of Egypt to end a miserable campaign in the Championship. Al Masry got their noses in front after six minutes when Mahmoud Wadi powered the Egyptians ahead, but Ifeanyi George leveled things up for Rangers as the remaining minutes of the game did not produce any goals thereafter. Rangers International finished the group behind Pyramids and Al Masry with 6 points after six matches.
Back home, Akwa United Football Club of Uyo continued their insurgence in the Nigeria Professional Football League when they secured a valuable point at Nnewi as a result of poor marksmanship in front of goal. Reacting to the result, the Coach of Akwa United, Kennedy Boboye expressed disappointment over his team inability to convert so many begging chances that would have broken their jinx against Ifeanyi Uba at home. “Actually, I am not happy with the result because this is not what we came for. We came for the three points but sometimes you push more and get less, so we make do with the draw. They were lucky because we missed some chances that would have made the difference,” Boboye said. He, however, promised to bounced back against struggling Rangers of Enugu in Uyo in Matchday 18 fixture.
In the match between Dakkada FC and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi played at Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Dakkada rallied back to cancel out a 68th minute goal by Daniel Jackson of Wikki Tourists when Femi Ajayi nodded home Imoh Obot’s corner in the 87th minutes to level matters for the newly promoted side.
