It’s Matchday, folks!
After a grueling road trip from Aba that felt like a scene from Mad Max, we finally made it to Maiduguri. Hallelujah! We’ve rested, we’ve had a feel of that “fantastic” pitch in the northeast, and now, it’s time for business. Today’s the day we do what we do best—grab those non-negotiable 3 points. Optimism? Absolutely!
But let’s not kid ourselves—El-Kanemi Warriors won’t just roll over for a belly rub. No, this isn’t a stroll in the park. They’re unbeaten this season! Sure, they’ve only bagged 8 points compared to our “glorious” 14, but they’ve clawed their way back from losing positions more than once. Impressive, right? But here’s the thing—we’ve yet to let any team snatch a lead back from us this season. If we go ahead today, it’s going to be a long, painful climb for the newly promoted Warriors. So, let’s give them something to think about.
Remember, we may have stumbled against Rivers United (the only other unbeaten team), and that frustrating draw against Niger Tornadoes still feels fresh, but we’ve been solid on the road. A win on Matchday 1, a point from Ibadan—we’re no slouches away from home. Today? We’re feeling like it’s time to chalk up another road victory.
Coach Yema has already laid down the law—recover those points we dropped at home. Eze Ekwutoziem said the boys came to Maiduguri with one thing on their minds: victory. And I don’t know about you, but I trust they’re going to deliver on that promise.
Let’s talk defence. Our backline has been pretty tight this season, letting in more than one goal only once (though Seyeifa Jackson’s goal against us in Port Harcourt still hurts). El-Kanemi may have some sharpshooters, but we’ve got a pretty decent defence capable of holding it down. If they’re on their game, and our fullbacks keep the space tight, we should be fine. Plus, Ani Ozoemena’s due for a match-winning performance—he’ll want to make a perfect performance after that near-perfect show in the last away match. A focused keeper can turn the tide, and we believe Ani will rise to the occasion.
Now, here’s where it gets fun. El-Kanemi are generous. Like, really generous. They’ve conceded in every match this season except that bizarre opener against Rangers. So, let’s make them pay today. It’s time for Joseph Atule and the wingers to channel their inner “Clinton Jephtha” (since he’s off in Togo doing his thing for the WAFU B U20s), and for our strikers to stop being shy in front of goal. We can’t keep letting those chances slip by like we’re trying to be polite!
El-Kanemi, with or without coach Aliyu Zubairu, though unbeaten are beatable. We need to walk into that stadium with our heads high, ready to take all three points. Even their fans have been told of it—teams can come to Maiduguri and get a result, just like they’ve done on the road. Our boys need to block out the noise, show off that beautiful brand of football we’re known for, and wrap up those three points as a souvenir for the fans back home.
May Maiduguri treat us kindly!
Back tomorrow!
Enyimba Enyi!
