Good morning!
The feeling of a win is usually different, especially in a situation where you were just on the brink of it away in Lagos. The team has been fighting for every point in every game over the past few weeks, and that was the case at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena yesterday night. The boys gave everything for three previous points, but we were denied by a late dagger.
Following a run of two wins and a draw in the past three league matches, the Elephants arrived in Lagos full of confidence. We were seconds away from another three points on the road as Mujeeb Odufeso came off the bench to score the equalizer, while Atule scored in his third successive league game for Stanley Eguma’s side.
In terms of the selections, Eguma was serious minded for this one, as he opted for
experience and balance from defence to the attack. Ani Ozoemena started in goal,
Chikamso Okechukwu and Paschal Eze were partners at the heart of the defence as Wisdom Obichere, and Solomon Ogberahwe were deployed in the full-back positions. The trio of Kalu Nweke, Chinedu Ufere, and Lagos boy Elijah Akanni started in midfield. Further upfront, in-form Joseph Atule started alongside Junior Lokosa and Christian Nnaji.
Truth be told, it was a torrid first-half where Enyimba laboured and worked tirelessly in their defensive half to keep Ikorodu City at bay. Ani, who was conspicuously missing from Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles list, came up with some big stops in the opening half-hour. After weathering the storm, we got a shot on target through Chinedu Ufere, but that was it for us in the final third. Unfortunately, a goal minutes before the first half break arrived for the hosts, as we lost skipper of the day Paschal Eze to a thigh problem.
Before the restart, Innocent Gabriel replaced Pachal Eze, as the ineffective Junior Lokosa and Elijah Akanni were withdrawn for Mujeeb Odufeso, and Quadri Olasunkanmi – those changes changed the game for us.
We started seeing more of the ball and making runs at the Ikorodu City’s defence through Atule’s trickery on the left and Mujeeb’s solid hold-up play in the final third. One of those exciting moments, Quadri Olasunkanmi’s ball over the defence was brought down calmly by substitute Odufeso, who then rounded the Keeper, to slot into an unguarded net for the equalizer. The striker took off his shirt in celebration, and was rightly booked.
From that moment on, Eguma’s men started to grow in confidence, and we soon found themselves ahead with a goal from Joseph Atule. The former Lobi Stars man reacted to a loose ball in the area to fire past the Ikorodu City goalkeeper.
As we’ve always seen in the NPFL, the home side got into full attacking mode, but they met a well drilled defensive wall. Even when they breached, Ani Ozoemena made himself big to deny them on multiple occasions. However, in the 98th minute, the home side grabbed a late equalizer to deny us the maximum points in Lagos.
It was quite painful for the boys who gave it all for the three points, and I equally share their pain even as I write this match report. It would have been a different story with a win in Lagos.
Despite the little setback, we stay three points behind 3rd placed Rangers (the final Continental slot) with nine matches to go. That continental football dream? It’s not impossible.
Back tomorrow
‘EnyimbaEnyi
