I almost started with a question about what makes this morning good, but then I remembered—I’m alive, well, and kicking, and so are you. That alone should count for something. But beyond that, there isn’t much to celebrate.
Yesterday was one of those days that tested the patience of everyone associated with this club. Whether you were at the stadium, watching from home, or just keeping up with the updates, you probably felt the same frustration. For those who had a little something riding on the game financially, it was even worse.
From the moment fans walked into the stadium with 2017 tickets (yes, you read that right) to seeing our players arrive in a rickety, worn-out bus, there was already a feeling that things weren’t quite right. And then the match itself kicked off—and the frustrations only grew.
It took just 16 minutes for Shooting Stars to break through, and when they did, it wasn’t exactly surprising. Godwin Odibo was enjoying himself on our right side, constantly giving Onome a hard time. Our midfield, despite being packed with bodies, felt like an open highway, allowing our visitors to pass through with ease.
Then came Sodiq Ibrahim, who took full advantage of one of those gaps and finished calmly past Ozoemena. 1-0, and a sharp chill ran through the stadium. It could have been worse just minutes later, as Sodiq found himself in another dangerous position—but thankfully, he somehow missed his chance.
At this point, Eguma was visibly frustrated. He stood on the sidelines, watching as the team struggled to string together meaningful attacks. The home fans in the VIP section, seated right behind the bench, made sure he heard their displeasure loud and clear. Eventually, he decided to shake things up.
Odusukanmi and Afolayan were brought on for Fatai and Alalibo, and just moments later, Awazie popped up with the equalizer—finally, something to cheer about.
The first half ended 1-1, and after the break, Shooting Stars introduced Adebayo in an attempt to regain control. But the second half belonged to Enyimba. We dominated possession, dictated the tempo, and spent long periods camped in their half.
The problem? Final balls. Again and again, our attacks broke down at the crucial moment. We overhit passes, misread runs, took heavy touches, and failed to apply the killer blow.
Eguma tried to inject more firepower, bringing on Ideye, Nnachi, and Akanni, but it made little difference. Shooting Stars quickly realized that they didn’t need to fight for possession—they just needed to let us have the ball and wait for us to self-destruct.
Full-time: 1-1. Another home match, another frustrating result.
Our record in the second half of the season now stands at two wins and two draws at home—not good enough for a club of our stature. As it stands, we sit in 12th place on the log, a position that is as uncomfortable as it is unacceptable.
The big question remains: How did we get here, and is there a way out?
Back tomorrow with some real issues on the game.
Enyimba Enyi!
