BEVERLY HILLS, May 24, (THEWILL) – The high expectations of two-time African club competition champions Enyimba International Football Club of Aba in this season’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup were summarily dashed on Sunday at their home grounds of the International Stadium.
Needing a spectacular performance to plough their way back into contention after falling to a 4-1 loss in the first leg of their quarter-final fixture against the Pyramids FC of Egypt on Sunday, May 16, the People’s Elephant could only muster a disappointing 1-1 draw and dropped out of the campaign with a 5-2 aggregate.
Instead, the Egyptian Premier League fifth-placed side, the Pyramids, who were runners-up in their debut continental appearance last year, advanced to the competition’s semi-finals for the second time in as many appearances with Morocco’s Raja Casablanca standing in their way forward.
Enyimba’s chances were dimmed two minutes after the half hour mark as the mountain they needed to surmount became impossible with another Ibrahim Adel goal to add to the brace he scored in the first leg. The equaliser from Super Eagles invitee Anayo Iwuala, eight minutes later was scant consolation as there were no further goals registered, bringing an early end to Nigeria’s participation in continental football this season.
The Pyramids advanced to contend passage to the final against Raja Casablanca, who left South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in the dust with a second leg 4-nil thrashing at home after their first leg tie in South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw. The Egyptian side will approach their semi-finals with the confidence that their goalkeeper, Ahmed Elshenawy, has brought into his role for them.
Elshenawy consistently kept his side competitive by his heroics between the sticks regardless of the numerous chances Enyimba players had to take the lead. But for Elshenawy, Iwuala could have scored a lot more than the single one the Nigerian managed. When Ozor Felix attempted to breach the Pyramids backline with a brilliant shot from distance, Elshenawy was there again to keep it out.
Perhaps, if Elshenawy was not forced off the pitch with an injury seven minutes before the interval, there might not have been any goals to count for the Nigerian side. Because, just two minutes after he was substituted, Iwuala found the back of the net with a pile driver that substitute goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy was no equal to.
But, the Aba-based team could not exploit Ekramy’s disposition because the Pyramids returned from the break a much stronger and composed side. Like Elshenawy, John Noble, in goal for the People’s Elephant gave a better account of himself to ensure the Pyramids did not find another goal.
Several missed chances and a goal-line clearance from the Pyramids later and the Egyptian side were happy to run the clock down with the confidence of a side that knew they had qualified into the next round of CAF’s competition, while Enyimba were left ruing their chances for another season.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
