The reality has hit home- The Season Is Over, Folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the most fitting way to kick off this review. Not because we didn\u2019t already know the curtain was drawing near, but because we clung to the tiniest, most fragile shred of hope \u2014 hope that maybe, just maybe, we\u2019d sneak through the backdoor into a happy ending we barely deserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But alas, Gombe happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were beaten. Again. And not in the sort of way that sparks defiance or rage \u2014 just that familiar, flat, frustrating kind of defeat that\u2019s been our closest companion this season. The kind that reminds you that inconsistency has been our most consistent trait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coach Stanley Eguma went with hometown lad Zalli Abdullahi in goal, protected (in theory) by Innocent Gabriel, Afolayan Peters, Chikamso Okechukwu, and Solomon Ogberahwe. Usman Lolo anchored the midfield alongside Ufere Chinedu and Kalu Nweke, while up front we had Mujeeb Odufeso, Quadri Olusukanmi, and Ekene Awazie \u2014 an attacking trio that looked more like a jigsaw without its centre-piece. Junior Lokosa, the only recognised striker on the trip, got the classic “in case of emergency, break glass” role on the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, looking at that lineup, it\u2019s hard not to sigh. But let\u2019s be honest \u2014 who, exactly, in this bloated 40-man squad is brimming with inspiration right now? Fewer than 10 players get injured, and suddenly we\u2019re scraping the barrel. Maybe those were the only 10 worth their boots. Maybe burnout was just waiting around the corner with a stopwatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nasarawa United, transformed under Salisu Yusuf into a side that rarely knows how to lose, needed just under ten minutes to throw the first punch \u2014 Shina Kumater drawing first blood to set the mood. Then, right before the half-hour, Anas Yusuf made it worse from the spot, padding his stats and our misery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we got a lifeline \u2014 the rarest of own goals \u2014 when Utake Emmanuel turned in Kalu Nweke\u2019s corner three minutes later. At 2-1 down, with results elsewhere still dangling hope in front of our faces, there was still that faint belief. Maybe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the restart, Awazie \u2014 who\u2019s made a habit of giving us slivers of belief \u2014 converted from the spot to make it 2-2. Cue the hopeful glances. The calculators. The goosebumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then\u2026 Ajiya happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three minutes. That\u2019s all it took for Nasarawa to grab the lead again and crush our fragile momentum like a biscuit under a boot. And from there, the flicker faded. Our fight fizzled. The shoulders dropped. The familiar end credits rolled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To rub salt into the wound, our dear neighbours Abia Warriors pulled off their own miracle in Umuahia \u2014 scoring twice in the second half to secure their first-ever continental ticket. A historic achievement. So yes, congrats to them. Sincerely. Truly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And for us? Whether you love Enyimba parasitically, symbiotically, fanatically, or just in passing, this is the lesson: tough, ugly, overdue changes are needed. Not tweaks. Not press statements. Changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boys will get some rest before the final game. A final chapter in a book titled \u201cA Lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once again, congratulations to Abia Warriors on their highest-ever league finish. Well done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For us \u2014 back to the drawing board. And please, this time, bring an eraser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘EnyimbaEnyi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The reality has hit home- The Season Is Over, Folks. That\u2019s the most fitting way to kick off this review. Not because we didn\u2019t already know the curtain was drawing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"breadcrumbs_single_post":"","page_title_panel":"","breadcrumbs_single_page":"","single_page_alignment":"","single_page_margin":"","page_structure_type":"","content_style_source":"","content_style":"","blog_post_streched_ed":"","blog_page_streched_ed":"","has_transparent_header":"","disable_transparent_header":"","vertical_spacing_source":"","content_area_spacing":"","single_post_content_background":"","single_page_content_background":"","single_post_boxed_content_spacing":"","single_page_boxed_content_spacing":"","single_post_content_boxed_radius":"","single_page_content_boxed_radius":"","disable_featured_image":"","disable_post_tags":"","disable_author_box":"","disable_posts_navigation":"","disable_comments":"","disable_related_posts":"","disable_header":"","disable_footer":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_rishi_post_view_count":299},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","rishi-post"],"yoast_head":"\n