The reality has hit home- The Season Is Over, Folks.
That’s the most fitting way to kick off this review. Not because we didn’t already know the curtain was drawing near, but because we clung to the tiniest, most fragile shred of hope — hope that maybe, just maybe, we’d sneak through the backdoor into a happy ending we barely deserved.
But alas, Gombe happened.
We were beaten. Again. And not in the sort of way that sparks defiance or rage — just that familiar, flat, frustrating kind of defeat that’s been our closest companion this season. The kind that reminds you that inconsistency has been our most consistent trait.
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 — 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.
Now, looking at that lineup, it’s hard not to sigh. But let’s be honest — who, exactly, in this bloated 40-man squad is brimming with inspiration right now? Fewer than 10 players get injured, and suddenly we’re scraping the barrel. Maybe those were the only 10 worth their boots. Maybe burnout was just waiting around the corner with a stopwatch.
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 — 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.
But we got a lifeline — the rarest of own goals — when Utake Emmanuel turned in Kalu Nweke’s 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?
After the restart, Awazie — who’s made a habit of giving us slivers of belief — converted from the spot to make it 2-2. Cue the hopeful glances. The calculators. The goosebumps.
Then… Ajiya happened.
Three minutes. That’s 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.
To rub salt into the wound, our dear neighbours Abia Warriors pulled off their own miracle in Umuahia — scoring twice in the second half to secure their first-ever continental ticket. A historic achievement. So yes, congrats to them. Sincerely. Truly.
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.
The boys will get some rest before the final game. A final chapter in a book titled “A Lot.”
Once again, congratulations to Abia Warriors on their highest-ever league finish. Well done.
For us — back to the drawing board. And please, this time, bring an eraser.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
