Enyimba Suffers 2nd League Defeat In Narrow Loss To Elkanemi

..Coach Yema Worried Over Poor Time Recovery

A stoppage time goal from Elkanemi Warriors Abbas Usman condemned Enyimba FC to it's second league loss of the season.

The petit striker after evading his marker inside the box following an exchange of passes with his team mate allowed Abbas one on one with keeper, Ani Ozoemena before slotting to the left hand corner of the post in added time.

The People's Elephant although created the first real chance of the game in the early minutes with Ifeanyi Ihemekwele flautering away a good chance after being released by Chukwudi Nwaodu off a swift counter attack.

The home side from then controlled most part of the first stanza drawing fantastic saves from Enyimba's safe hands, Ozoemena who after the encounter has just conceded 2 goals in the league, one each against Niger Tornadoes on Wednesday and Elkanemi Warriors on Sunday.

The Aba giants after a half time substitution with Nweke Kalu replacing Ani Chigozie saw some urgency in their attack creating opportunities but poor marksmanship in front of goal continued to deny the 9 times league champions an equalizer.

The home sides however remained very dangerous with counter attacks but Ozoemena continuously produced man of the match performance saves to keep the score line at 1-0.

Speaking after the very entertaining encounter, Coach Munir Abdulazeez of Elkanemi Warriors commended his opponents for pushing them to their limits describing Enyimba as a top rated side in Nigeria.

Coach Munir noted that Elkanemi and Rivers remains the only unbeaten sides in the league this season adding that they hope to maintain the momentum.

Whiling thanking God for the victory he however praised the fans for their intimidating turn out saying it proves that peace has continued to return to Maiduguri. 

 

In his reaction, Coach Olanrewaju Daniel Yemi of Enyimba described Elkanemi Warriors as a descent side but insisted that it was a game of two halves.

He said although the home side dominated the first half but that his side created the first goal opportunity and that his boys suffered from fatigue in the first half but picked up the momentum in the second half.

"Yeah it was a good game, they are a descent side, we knew they are a good  side and they gave us a good game. 

"First half we struggled a bit due to fatigue. I think they had the first half while we had the second half.

"We controlled the game, we created the first chance even though we didn't score in the first half but it was a good game and a good advert for NPFL.

Coach Yema who has always restrained from talking about the Referees however expressed his worry about the poor recovery of lost time especially during Enyimba games.

"I don't like talking about officiating that's something that is out of my control, I don't have powers over it.

"But I don't think this officiating was bad the only thing I can talk about is the added time, they made five changes and we made five then your adding only three minutes with all the time they were waisting, that's the only thing I can complain it's not good. 

Enyimba will journey home back to Aba to prepare for their next league encounter against another newly promoted side, Ikorodu City FC of Lagos on Sunday at the Enyimba Int'l Stadium, Aba.