Nigeria Football

NPFL: ​Enyimba Edge Sunshine Stars In Calabar

 
Ifeanyi Aneamena’s 72nd minute header tipped the balance for Enyimba against a gusty Sunshine Stars side in a keenly contested match day 10 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game in Calabar Sunday.

Shortly after a minute silence was observed in honour of the memory of late former Enyimba’s player, Chinedu Udoji, the game got off to a lively start with both sides pressing hard for an early advantage while the heavens pour down heavily.

12 minutes into the game at the U.J Eseune Stadium the first real chance of the game fell to the hosts, and Stephen Chukwudi, made no mistake dispatching past Moses Ocheje from eight yards out off Chinonso Okonkwo’s cross to put Enyimba ahead.

The visitors responded to going down by dominating possessions and territory however it was Enyimba that kept creating meaningful chances but were denied a second by Ocheje’s smart saves before the interval.

Sunshine Stars drew level in the 51st minutes through Alaba Adeniyi; the wingback’s effort, combined with Sikiru Alimi’s dummy deflected in off Anaemena as early pressure from the restart paid dividend for the Duke Udi tutored side.

Anaemena moved from villain to hero in a tensed closing stages, heading home off the crossbar from a Chukwudi’s cross. Though the later appeared to be in an offside position before receiving a pass to whip in the ball.

The visitors put in some delightful attacking displays during the late rush for a second equaliser but were left frustrated by the hosts defensive play and some perceived contentious calls of the referee before the contest was bought to an end.

Enyimba coach Paul Aigbogun shared his thoughts on the difficult game while reflecting on the tie in a post match interview.

 _”It was a difficult game but a good win for us. The rain made it more difficult but we thank God for the result.”_ 

Sunshine Stars captain, Sunday Abe who also face the media after the match refused to blame the referee for his side’s loss before reacting to a question on the late Udoji.

A visibly dissapointed Abe Stated: _”Enyimba are a good side and we are also a good side. We played a very good game, well, I don’t like blaming the referee. Apart from the Club we have our names on the back of our jersey, we tell ourselves to fight, exactly what are coach (Udi) tells us always.”_ 

 _”Udoji’s death is painful and hard to deal with but at least he was a able to raise a family while alive. I think we players should just keep praying to God for protection.”_ 

 

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