Enyimba International Stadium on a wet Wednesday evening erupted in cheers as the People’s Elephant continued their impressive late season surge, defeating Kwara United 2-0 in a crucial Nigeria Premier Football League Match day 36 encounter. Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye was the hero of the evening, bagging a brace that extended Enyimba’s winning streak to four games and significantly boost their aspirations for a continental slot.
Having been in blistering form recently, Enyimba wasted no time asserting their dominance on the Harmony Boys. The opening goal arrived in the 12th minute, a testament to the attacking prowess of the Aba-based side. Joseph Atule, operating from the left channel, delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the six-yard box. Brown Ideye, finding himself unmarked, calmly slotted the ball beyond the reach of the Kwara United goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Ideye wasn’t done yet. Just before the halftime whistle, he found himself in another favorable position and once again made no mistake, confidently firing the ball past the Kwara custodian. The stadium exploded with shouts of joy as Enyimba went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion, courtesy of their veteran forward.
The second half saw Enyimba continue to push for a third goal, keen to further solidify their position. While Kwara United attempted to find a way back into the game, Enyimba’s defense held firm. Ideye himself came agonizingly close to completing a hat-trick in the 80th minute, but his effort narrowly missed, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
In the post-match interview, Enyimba coach Stanley Eguma praised his players adherence to instructions. “The players kept to instructions and we played very well as a team,” he stated. Looking ahead, he added, “We won’t relent until it’s over, we still have two games to play and there’s a possibility that we will qualify for the CAF competitions.”
Captain Paschal Eze echoed the sentiment of determination, revealing the team’s motivation. He explained that the match was an opportunity to channel their disappointment after being knocked out of the Presidential Federations Cup. “Enyimba is a big team known to play in the biggest of competitions,” Eze emphasized, highlighting the team’s unwavering focus on securing a return to the continent at the end of the season.
The victory sees Enyimba climb to 5th on the NPFL log with 55 points, just two points shy of their sister club, Abia Warriors who currently occupy the coveted 3rd position. The People’s Elephant now face a significant challenge in their next outing, a potentially Herculean task away from home against Nassarawa United. A positive result in that fixture would undoubtedly put them in a strong position heading into the final match of the season as they continue their relentless pursuit of continental qualification.
