Monday is the first workday of the week\u2014everywhere but here. In this part of the country, it\u2019s a day of relaxation, of skeletal business activities in a city that thrives on commerce. Aba slows down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like Mondays, our Enyimba is becoming unrecognizable from the dominant force we’ve known since the year 2000. Yesterday, we had a golden opportunity to claim our new management\u2019s first NFF-recognized silverware, facing non-league Ahudiyannem FC in the Abia State FA Cup final. It wasn\u2019t just a loss\u2014we suffered a triple blow: the match itself, our top striker, and most painfully, our pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eguma fielded a strong lineup in Umuahia: Zalli Abdullahi in goal; Obichere, Pascal, Innocent, and Ikemdinachi in defense; Fatai, Ufere, and Akanni in midfield; Ihemekwele up front, flanked by Awazie and Nnachi. The bench? Stacked\u2014Ozoemena, Alalibo, Balogun, Ebube, Ahubaraezenma, Atule, Leonard, and even Brown Ideye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then, disaster struck early. Ihemekwele got seriously injured just 18 minutes in, forcing Balogun to come on. Meanwhile, Ahudiyannem were down to 10 men\u201472 whole minutes to school a non-league side, but instead, we huffed, puffed, and \u2018offed\u2019 when we needed to \u2018on\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a side that has now eliminated an NPFL club (Not us tho) twice in three years, Ahudiyannem FC smelled blood. Even with a 2025 President\u2019s Federation Cup ticket already secured, they fought like their lives depended on it. Full-time: 0-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Penalties? A nightmare. Ani, a 90th-minute sub, made a save, but misses from Balogun, Ikemdinachi, and Ufere sealed our fate. Another chance at some kind of silverware, Gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sure, it\u2019s just the State FA Cup, but if our “stars” can\u2019t beat an \u201cordinary\u201d Ahudiyannem FC, what\u2019s the future looking like? Meanwhile, we wish Ihemekwele a speedy recovery\u2014another injury in a season that keeps getting worse by the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You know how after a defeat you try to make sense of it? Was it the injury to Ihemekwele? Did we underestimate them? Was it just sheer bad luck? While I may not realistically rule out the first two, it’s hard to blame bad luck especially if you are coming off back to back losses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At some point, the manager has to start getting the stick. One thing Stanley Eguma had successfully done, is to destroy whatever playing identity we had especially under Coach Yema. You can watch this team for 7 hours and not see any semblance to a play style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up next? Shooting Stars at 3pm on Wednesday. Meanwhile, what does Ahudiyannem mean? Does anyone even know? Weird name in my opinion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Enyimba Enyi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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