It’s not over yet!
With only two games left in the season, and our continental dreams hanging by a thread, we needed nothing short of a win in front of the home crowd in Aba — and thanks to a vintage performance from Brown Ideye, we got just that.
Under the watchful eyes of our gaffer Stanley Eguma, the boys knew what was at stake. A slow start would have spelled doom, but thankfully, we came out all guns blazing. From the first whistle, we pressed, pushed, and pinned Kwara United back. The first few minutes were all about dominance — corner after corner, wave after wave. It was intense, yet somehow still nervy. You know how it is with this team — always unpredictable.
But then, in the 12th minute, we finally had something to cheer about. Joseph Atule whipped in a brilliant cross from the left, and who else but Brown Ideye — the experienced striker — to stretch and tap it in. 1-0. Relief in the stands. Hope rekindled. It wasn’t just a goal; it was a statement.
Unfortunately, we were dealt a heavy blow soon after. Atule, who had been lively and our best legs since eguma arrived, had to come off injured around the 25th minute mark, replaced by Mujeeb Odufeso. But the hunger didn’t drop. If anything, it seemed to spark the boys further.
And just when it looked like we’d go into halftime with a slim lead, Ideye turned up again — this time in first-half stoppage time. Calm, composed, clinical. His second goal sealed a near-perfect first-half performance and sent the fans into a frenzy. The old warhorse was rolling back the years and giving us a lifeline when we needed it the most.
Kwara United came out a different side after the break. They pressed harder, played with urgency, and looked like they might claw one back. But credit to our defence — especially skipper Pascal Eze and the ever-reliable Ufere Chinedu — they stood tall. Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena also pulled off a couple of key interventions to maintain our cushion.
As the half wore on, the tempo dipped, the clouds gathered to catch a glimpse of the action, and visibility got so bad the referee had to temporarily suspend the match. But again, Enyimba weathered the storm — literally.
When play resumed, the focus was simple: close out the game. Kwara huffed and puffed, but there was no way through, and when the final whistle went, it was pure relief. A solid 2-0 win. Three precious points. And our faint hopes of snatching that elusive third-place finish stayed alive.
This win takes us to 55 points — one behind Ikorodu City, and just one more behind Abia Warriors. With two matches to go, and a slightly favourable run-in on paper (banished Nasarawa United away, Plateau United at home), the door is still ajar. Yes, it’s narrow. Yes, we’ve been inconsistent. But this is Enyimba. If anyone can pull off the miraculous, it’s us.
Brown Ideye? Two goals today. A man-of-the-match performance. A leader when we needed one.
The hope may be tiny. But it’s there. And as much as they say it
Enyimba Enyi
