Good morning Guys.
Our CAF Confederations Cup journey grounded to a halt after a 3-1 defeat in Egypt yesterday. The Egyptians sailed to an early lead and never really looked like letting go of it. There was a brief moment when Ihemekwele had our hopes up. Albeit, it was never to be and our CAF Campaign nosedived to an end.
Eguma’s lineup selection raised no eye brows, but the team’s underwhelming performance raises questions about his strategy. While I hesitate to second-guess his decisions, it’s clear that it wasn’t quite working – our hosts knifed through butter with ease and hardly breaking sweat.
No doubt it was tough ask, demanding this Enyimba iteration to be the first to get a win in Egypt but our Opponents had qualified already and we owed them a very good game. But we didn’t seem up for it. By the half hour mark, we had already handed them a lead.
They love gifts – Zamalek and won’t give you any. Our boys on the other hand were happy to oblige time and time again. By half time, we had more attempts on goal but at no time did their goalkeeper pull a world-class save to keep them ahead. Every one of those efforts were tamely hit toward their goal. We never looked like scoring.
In the second half, Eguma looked to his bench. Brown Ideye got quickly called to action. Chances were few and far in-between and the strikers barely sniffed. It was also good to see Clinton Jephtha back in the squad. I think that was the brightest note of the day. We’ve missed him. Him and his goals.
While Zamalek’s second and third goals were inevitable, they exposed the team’s exhausted and frustrated state. Careless mistakes, including Ani being dispossessed and their striker easily navigating through half-hearted tackles. It was like watching Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi. The final score of 3-1 flattered us, it could have been more.
But it wasn’t and we leave with a scoreline better than what Black Bull handed us back at their place. What if we had beat Black Bull in Mozambique? Well that could have helped but we still needed a result against one of the Egyptian duo to go thru. We couldn’t and that has cost us.
Worthy of mention is the fact that the team is already back in the country. Can you believe that? Perhaps Emenike is beginning to learn on the job. Kudos where it is due. Welldone sir. No slacking now. Keep it up.
Ladies and Gentlemen, attention returns to the League where we play Kano Pillars in midweek. Tomorrow though, we will chew on this result and campaign a little bit more. Right now, time to head out to President Trump’s inauguration. Should be a good one.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
