Enyimba FC were left to rue missed opportunities as they settled for an unfortunate 1-1 draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in their NPFL matchday 26 showdown at the Enyimba International Stadium on Wednesday.
A thrilling contest marred by an early defensive lapse and wasted chances saw the People’s Elephant fight back from a goal down, but their quest for a winner was undone by poor finishing and resolute defending from the visitors.
The encounter, briefly delayed due to an afternoon downpour, got off to a turbulent start for the home side. A shaky Enyimba defense was punished in the opening minutes as Ibrahim Sodiq capitalized on some slack marking to put the visiting Oluyole Warriors ahead.
Enyimba struggled to find their rhythm, with misplaced passes and a lack of urgency allowing 3SC to dictate the pace early on. Despite some attempts to respond, the Aba giants found themselves chasing the game as the visitors remained compact and disciplined.
Eguma’s Tactical Gamble Pays Off
Realizing the need for a spark, Coach Stanley Eguma made bold changes towards the end of the first half, introducing Afolayan Peters and Quadri Odusokanmi for captain Somiari Alalibo and Fatai Abdullahi.
The double substitution had an immediate impact, injecting urgency into Enyimba’s attack. Their persistence paid off just before halftime when Ekene Awazie produced a moment of brilliance, curling home a sublime effort to restore parity and send the home fans into raptures.
With the rain easing, Enyimba came out in the second half determined to snatch all three points. They dominated possession and created a flurry of chances, but poor finishing and some resolute defending from 3SC kept them at bay.
Shooting Stars, sensing the pressure, resorted to time-wasting tactics and hit on the counter whenever possible, frustrating the home side. Enyimba, despite their dominance, could not find a way past the stubborn Ibadan-based outfit.
After the match, a visibly frustrated Coach Eguma did not hide his disappointment, lamenting his side’s slow start and wasted opportunities.
“It’s unfortunate we could only get a draw in this game. We started carelessly, allowing the opponents too much time and space, which gave them their goal,” Eguma admitted.
“But after that, we took control and made the necessary changes for the equalizer. We had chances to bury the game, but complacency cost us. We will now shift our focus to the next match against Tornadoes and correct our mistakes for a better result in Lafia.”
Enyimba will now turn their attention to a crucial away fixture against Niger Tornadoes this Sunday. With the title race heating up and points becoming even more precious, the Aba-based giants must rediscover their cutting edge if they hope to keep their aspirations alive.
For now, though, it’s a case of two points dropped rather than one gained for the People’s Elephant, as their search for consistency continues in the NPFL.