Enyimba



Location: Aba, Nigeria


Stadium: Enyimba Sports Stadium


Capacity: 10000


Average age of players: 24 years


League: Globacom Premier League


Captain: Vincent Enyeama

:bouncy: :sun: :jacko: :jacko: :jacko: :rockman: :lui: :wootman: :hump: :jap:

Governor slams Enyimba

Minutes after their hard earned 1-0 victory over the Enugu Rangers International FC in a rescheduled premier league match at the Enyimba International Stadium, players and officials of the African champions were tongue lashed by their sole sponsor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the governor of Abia state for what he described as exhibition of low quality football by the Aba warlords.
The governor who was visibly angry with his boys while addressing them at the dressing room after the match saw the 1-0 defeat against Rangers as a non commendable feat warned the team against a repeat of such performance especially now that the team is gunning for unbeaten record leadership of the premier league.

According to the governor who it was said invited his European friends to come to watch the explosive encounter and experience the Enyimba fire, insisted that football is a business and for him to continue pumping millions of Naira into the team, a performance that will guarantee profitable returns must be assured.

"I cannot continue spending so much money without returns. That's no good business".

He warned the technical crew led by coach Okey Emordi with a fierce pointing of finger against condoning indiscipline in the team as he was reliably informed that some of the players don't turn up for training.

"You must report any player that fails to turn up for training and I will collect whatever paid to him in full. I will all my money 100%. Anybody that wants to make it in life must be discipline. I will not condone any further act of indiscipline from any body"

(h)

Great thread. I've always loved African football.

It's only a matter of time before Enyimba loose their captain/GK. He is good no doubt, and once he learns how to deal with crosses more effectively he might be snatched by a larger European side. Especially since he is a nigerian national.


Great thread. I've always loved African ....

you what mate? I thought I was hellucinating

Only if he doesnt get big headed and say i want more more or i wanted to go to a bigger club or im to good to be on the bench then he will get somewhere in europe

you what mate? I thought I was hellucinating

It was just a certain "someone" abusing his power in a rather pathetic attempt to be funny.

:)

Hahahahaaa, too funny for sure. Just change it to how it was, might as well yo just for jokes.

As for Enyimba, they got some tough draws in the African CL this year. Raja Casablanca and Al Ahly in the group stage.

ps. thas a grimy as$ competition for sure, got grimy lookin Africans rockin Byern Munich Jerseys, and t-shirts and sh1t. They really gotta get sorted out. Its sad and funny at the same time.

well if u dont like it they go buy them better ones :kader:

Title holders Enyimba were handed two tough north African opponents in their African Champions League group at the draw in Cairo on Saturday, pitted against Al Ahly of Egypt and Morocco's Raja Casablanca in group B.

There will be a potential explosive all-Tunisian clash in the other group where Esperance and Etoile Sahel are paired together.

Champions League - Group A
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Enyimba (Nigeria)
Ajax Cape Town (South Africa)

Both the Egyptian and Moroccan outfits are among the four teams in Africa this year with Al Ahly decisive in winning their domestic championship with an unbeaten run and Raja on course to defend their title in Morocco.

But Enyimba's confident chairman Felix Anyansi declared his side were still confident of a record-breaking third successive title.

"It is a tough draw but then any draw we would have had would have been tough," he told the BBC.

Champions League - Group B
ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Zamalek (Egypt)
Esperance (Tunisia)
Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)

"Our team is a relatively new one, we got rid of the complacent players but we are unbeaten in the premier league and this is what makes us confident."

The other team in group B is the South African newcomers Ajax Amsterdam.

In group B, Zamalek and ASEC Abidjan play the two Tunisian sides.

Confederation Cup - Group A
King Faisal Babes (Ghana)
Fello Star Labe (Guinea)
Royal Armed Forces (Morocco)
AS Marsa (Tunisia)

Esperance and Etoile share a bitter rivalry, evidence by the fact that Etoile, despite being top of the Tunisian league standings at the time, fired coach Ammar Souayeh after Esperance beat them on post-match penalties in a Tunisian Cup tie.


Confederation Cup - Group B
Arab Contractors (Egypt)
Ismaili (Egypt)
FC 105 Libreville (Gabon)
Dolphin FC (Nigeria)

Enyimba and Etoile, who played in last year's final, were the two seeded sides at the draw, which was conducted by legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Ahmed Shoubeir.

In the African Confederation Cup, Egyptian clubs Arab Contractors and Ismaili were drawn together in the same group.

Ouch.......thats gonna be a tough 1 for u guys. Al Ahly & Casablanca are like the top dogs in Africa aint they?

yea but Enyimba are in this elite group with

Zamalek (Egypt)
Esperance (Tunisia)
Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)

Enyimba is the best of them all

Table as of now in Globacom Premier League
http://nigeriasports.com/games/football/tables/enyimba

Fvck that, away games in Nigeria don't count, the refs mess up the results. They are too afraid of their lives to call descisions against home teams.

They do count its just that u always hear the bad things about the african game.

Because its SH1T!!! Drop African pride for a min, and compare African game, to say, South American. Everything, from tactical organization to infastructure.

Raw talented individuals, if not propelled in the right direction, will be nothing more than a fancy street football.

Seriously though, African football got a long way to go before they reach par with South American, especially in sub saharan Africa. They need more money put into the sport, domestic leagues are crap. Fvckin try watching a domestic game, its like someone is using a home made camera, and some grimy commentators spewing pigeon English that only they understand.

Man quit hating on the african game we all know that they have major promblems but what place on this earth doesnt. So dont come here and keep insultin africa.

Fvckin try watching a domestic game, its like someone is using a home made camera, and some grimy commentators spewing pigeon English that only they understand.

:rofl:

brilliant stuff (Y)

Dumb Fag

Oh, you must be the one that holds the home made camera.
Didn't mean to hurt you :ewan:

Because its SH1T!!! Drop African pride for a min, and compare African game, to say, South American. Everything, from tactical organization to infastructure.

Raw talented individuals, if not propelled in the right direction, will be nothing more than a fancy street football.

Seriously though, African football got a long way to go before they reach par with South American, especially in sub saharan Africa. They need more money put into the sport, domestic leagues are crap. Fvckin try watching a domestic game, its like someone is using a home made camera, and some grimy commentators spewing pigeon English that only they understand.

Shame on you... !!! [The following commentary isn't intended as a racist one... instead... the other way around]. Due to different geopolitical factors, African countries don't have money, nor the resources to even reach full political stability, as you say, specially in the Sub Saharian countries. So, personally, I rather prefer to see peace and growth in Africa instead of watching some lads fancying Adidas kits and balls in a top notch stadium while millions of persons are dying of famine.

As the word "racism" was brought to the thread, I must say I only thought that ZamundaMan's comment was funny, it's not like I have something against African football or people.

Shame on you... !!! [The following commentary isn't intended as a racist one... instead... the other way around]. Due to different geopolitical factors, African countries don't have money, nor the resources to even reach full political stability, as you say, specially in the Sub Saharian countries. So, personally, I rather prefer to see peace and growth in Africa instead of watching some lads fancying Adidas kits and balls in a top notch stadium while millions of persons are dying of famine.

Thank you for saying that, if you didnt say the stuff about famine id be even happier.:jap: :ewan: :jap:

Shame on you... !!! [The following commentary isn't intended as a racist one... instead... the other way around]. Due to different geopolitical factors, African countries don't have money, nor the resources to even reach full political stability, as you say, specially in the Sub Saharian countries. So, personally, I rather prefer to see peace and growth in Africa instead of watching some lads fancying Adidas kits and balls in a top notch stadium while millions of persons are dying of famine.

Well, that's the whole point innit. Infastructure. Africans are poor because polititians and leadership figures are like sponges, they seem to soak up all the cash they are supposed to invest. If you actually see Nigeria, there are no large scale famine/starvation etc. There's piss poor, and piss rich. And no one in the middle.

Nobody said we need fancy adidas kicks, but the coverage of the domestic league is pathetic, sorry if I have to tell you what many others tell you, its why so many Africans turn the TV to European leagues. I am sure if it was "watchable" it would be watched as often as possible. Did anyone actually see the Brazil - Nigeria game 2 years ago. It was a start, gorgeous stadium, abselutly amazing, and even the broadcast was descent (even though they were still trying to figure out the art of replays). If that's what the home league was like, maybe it would be watchable.

As for African Champions League, that's more of a benchmark for the real quality of football offered over the continent.

THIS MAN IS GOD NOW. You hit the nail on the head. You must be african.

Enyimba suffer league setback




Substitute Hakeem Oduwole scored a late winner as Kwara United notched a 1-0 home win over African champions Enyimba.

The defeat which was the second this season, has allowed the chasing pack to cut Enyimba's lead in the premier league to four points.

Gombe United are second after beating Kano Pillars 2-1 at home but had to come from a goal down and Bala Manu scored the winner with just five minutes left. Shooting Stars won 1-0 away at Gateway to stay third, one point behind Gombe and five off the lead.

Despite the seeming tough Confederation of African Football (CAF) draw which pitched Enyimba International FC of Aba and two North African giants, Al Ahly of Egypt and Raja Casablanca of Morocco in what has been described as the 'group of death' by football analysts, Chairman of the team Felix Agwu Anyansi has insisted that the Nigerian representatives will go all the way to win the title for keeps.

Anyansi, who spoke with THISDAYSports shortly after the draw in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, assured Nigerians that the Aba Elephants, as the team is popularly known, will brush aside the seeming tough opposition on their way to winning the title for keeps later this year. He said that Enyimba was more than ever before prepared for the campaign. He said that both the players and officials of the team anticipated a tough opposition even before the draw was made.

His words "We had anticipated this kind of pairing even before it was made. As a matter of fact, we knew that we will be paired against Al Ahly and that is for the simple reason that we played Etoile in last year's final. We knew they would equally be seeded. All said and done, we are more than ever before prepared for the matches."

Anyansi said it would be senseless for anything right thinking individual to believe that other teams will lie down and wait for us to spank them. It is not easy for these teams to have qualified for the league stage. The implication is that any of them can go all the way.

"There is no doubt that it is going to be a different ball game from this stage. We respect the North Africans. They are good and professionally managed. But the truth is that we are not afraid of any of them. I should rather think that we are the team to beat. All eyes will be on Enyimba and that is because of the record we set by winning the title two years consecutively. In that case, if there is any team to be afraid of, that team is Enyimba."

He, therefore, dismissed what most analysts regarded as the North African "nightmare and intimidation" with a wave of the hand saying, "it is a terrain we are familiar with."

"I don't see the North Africans stopping us now. The point I want to make is that all the teams are strong but we have more at stake than any other team. Enyimba is gunning to win the title for keeps, but other teams will be campaigning to win the title. We are gunning for history and a remarkable record, which no other team has done. The players and officials are aware of this and I can assure you that all hands must be on deck for us to achieve this. As for intimidation by North African supporters, we are happy that football is not played from the stands. Football is played on the field, so while their supporters will be harassing and playing their antics from the stands, our players will be slugging it out with their players on the field. We have travelled that part twice in 2003 and 2004 and came out unscathed respectively. We will still do it again by the grace of God," he said

Group / Groupe A:
1. El Ahly (EGY)
2. Raja (MOR)
3. Ajax Cape Town (RSA)
4. Enyimba (NGR)

Group / Groupe B:
1. Asec Mimosas (CIV)
2. Zamalek (EGY)
3. E.S.S. (TUN)
4. Espe rance (TUN)

1st day, 24,25,26.06.2005
Asec Mimosas (CIV) / Zamalek (EGY)
E.S.S. (TUN) / Esp rance (TUN)
El Ahly (EGY) / Raja (MOR)
Ajax Cape Town (RSA) / Enyimba (NGR)

2nd day, 08,09,10.07.2005
Zamalek (EGY) / E.S.S. (TUN)
Esp rance (TUN) / Asec Mimosas (CIV)
Raja (MOR) / Ajax Cape Town (RSA)
Enyimba (NGR) / El Ahly (EGY)

3rd day, 22,23,24.07.2005
Asec Mimosas (CIV) / E.S.S. (TUN)
Zamalek (EGY) / Esp rance (TUN)
El Ahly (EGY) / Ajax Cape Town (RSA)
Raja (MOR) / Enyimba (NGR)(probaly our bigget group game)

4th day, 05,06,07.08.2005
E.S.S. (TUN) / Asec Mimosas (CIV)
Esp rance (TUN) / Zamalek (EGY)
Ajax Cape Town (RSA) / El Ahly (EGY)
Enyimba (NGR) / Raja (MOR)(probaly our 2nd bigget group game)

5th day, 19,20,21.08.2005
Zamalek (EGY) / Asec Mimosas (CIV)
Esp rance (TUN) / E.S.S. (TUN)
Raja (MOR) / El Ahly (EGY)
Enyimba (NGR) / Ajax Cape Town (RSA)

6th day, 09,10,11.09.2005
E.S.S. (TUN) / Zamalek (EGY)
Asec Mimosas (CIV) / Esp rance (TUN)
Ajax Cape Town (RSA) / Raja (MOR)
El Ahly (EGY) / Enyimba (NGR)

Champions League - Group B
ASEC Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Zamalek (Egypt)
Esperance (Tunisia)
Etoile Sahel (Tunisia)

"Our team is a relatively new one, we got rid of the complacent players but we are unbeaten in the premier league and this is what makes us confident."

The other team in group B is the South African newcomers Ajax Amsterdam.
ajax amsterdam, wait what.... :jambo:

Yea i know it's a real team. They do that to catch your eye.

But why lol, their not even in Holland lol.

Sometimes we africans do dumb stuff.

But why lol, their not even in Holland lol.

There is actally an Amsterdam in South Africa, too. But the Ajax in South Africa play in Cape Town and are thus called Ajax Cape Town, not Ajax Amsterdam like someone previously said. www.ajaxct.com

http://www.hqfl.dk/gfx/logos/nga/enyimba_international.gif

Enyimba's official website is: www.enyimbainternationalfc.com (or at least used to be).

Two of the best places for info on the NPL are www.kickoffnigeria.com and www.supersport.co.za

Sorry Enyimba :jap:

this championship will be for ALAHLY from egypt :hump:

its ok to lose to Enyimba everybody does it so if you lose its not that bad, well it is but still we will make it to the next round untouched regaurdless.

El-Ahly will go unbeaten! Only time will tell.

El-Ahly will go unbeaten! Only time will tell.
Ofcourse their going to go beaten and bruised but like u said time heels all wounds.

http://nigeriasports.com/uploads/articles/5/2041.jpg League Leaders, Enyimba FC, on Sunday at the Enyimba International Stadium exacted their revenge on Champions, Dolphins FC, winning 2-1 in a keenly contested encounter that could have gone either way. With even exchanges from both sides, it was not until the 12th minute the first attempt on goal came through Muri Ogunbiyi who tried to bend the ball around Keeper, Austin Brown but it went slightly wide.

Three minutes later Kingsley Williams headed out a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade but it landed at the feet of Musa Aliyu who tried a canon from thirty yards but it went way off the mark.

A minute later it was the champions continuing from where Enyimba left off as Efosa Eguakun tried to make his way into the Enyimba eighteen yard box but he was brought down for a free kick which was taken by Obinna Nnodim.

The effort rattled John Gaadi but the goalkeeper recovered on time before Osunwa could get to the loose ball.

Returnee striker, Endurance Idahor also tried to get into the statistics book, making a forty yard run all the way from the Dolphins eighteen into Enyimba’s area on twenty two minutes but the ball was cleverly taken off his feet by Musa Aliyu to the delight of the crowd.

It was still Dolphins taking the game by the scruff of its neck as Kelechi Osunwa got to the ball at the edge of the Enyimba box, his flick freed Victor Ezeji but Keeper John Gaadi and Ajibade Omolade sandwiched him before he could control the ball leading to an injury to Keeper Gaadi.

On resumption of play (32nd) Endurance Idahor continued to pester the Enyimba de fence until he won a corner which was wasted anyway.

Two minutes later, Ezeji, Osunwa and Idahor combined well at the edge of the Enyimba box releasing Victor Babayaro who’s thirty yarder was saved by an obviously injured Gaadi.

Governor Kalu takes coaching duties

At this point an enraged, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu dashed down the State box straight to Enyimba’s bench to tongue lash Coach Okey Emordi on why he still left Gaadi on the pitch when he was injured.

At this point, Sam Okoye came in for John Gaadi but the Governor remained seated on the Enyimba bench with over twenty security personnel standing behind him.

In the 38th minute, Dolphins Keeper began his case for national recognition when he leaped high up in the air to stop a glancing header from Musa Aliyu which was as good as in the net.

The last five minutes of the half probably had more drama than the first forty minutes; first it was Williams who tried a pile driver from thirty yards that was stopped easily by Okoye with five minutes to go.

A minute later, Brown again saved Dolphins when he stretched full length to parry a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade.

Just as the spectators were still discussing that save, Keeper Brown again was called to duty as he dived full length to save a point blank shot from Atanda Shakibu.

Just before the half time whistle sounded, Musa Aliyu intelligently turned away Victor Babayaro but his effort went wide off the mark.

Four minutes into the restart, IFeanyi Obediah came in for Eric Fashindo and almost scored with his first touch of the ball a minute later when Uduak Udofia cleared the ball unto his path, but it went slightly wide.

On fifty three minutes, Idahor steals the ball from Odey Ogar but Sam Okoye was alert, stopping his shot in its tracks.

A minute later it was Enyimba again as Shakibu went clear of the Dolphins defence but hit the upright.

Efosa Eguakun who was having a quiet game got the spectators to notice him when he cleverly turned out Omolade, but his pull out which got to the feet of Idahor was blasted wide in what could rank as the miss of the day.

Not to be out done by the ambitious Port Harcourt side, Enyimba took up the gauntlet once more and eventually got the opener through a goal mouth scramble in the 60th minute.

Austin Brown had saved twice but his second attempt landed at the feet of Muri Ogunbuyi who cleverly tucked in behind a hapless Brown and more than four green shirted Dolphins players who were ball watching all the time.

But it took Dolphins only five minutes to recover as Victor Ezeji got behind the Enyimba defence to nod home a pull out from Uduak Udofia.

Without allowing the equalizer to dampen their spirit, Enyimba almost went ahead a minute later but Atanda Shakibu’s header went wide.

With fourteen minutes to go Dolphins would have Brown to thank for keeping them alive as he had to stretch full length once again to parry a shot from Shakibu before Uduak Udofia cleared out the loose ball.

On eighty three minute, Muri Oginbuyi showed flashes of tight ball handling when he almost freed substitute Ibrahim Jubrin in Dolphins box but Obinna Nnodim’s outstretched leg saved the day.

With two minutes to go, Muri Ogunbuyi latched on a mis-kick by Victor Babayaro and put Yusuf Mohammed into space.

Yusuf’s pull out got the Shakibu who cheekily back heeled the ball behind Austin Brown for the decider.

“I am very disappointed we could not hold on with two minutes to go,” Dolphins Technical Adviser, Musa Abdulahi told nigeriasports.com after the match.

“I came here to win because that is what I did last year, but when you have to lose a game with just two minutes to go after playing so well, you must be disappointed.”

Atanda Shakibu was so delighted after scoring the winner that he could hardly stand on his feet.

“Scoring the winning goal was sweet, especially against a side like Dolphins,” Shakibu told nigeriasports.com.

Enyimba have now gone five points clear of their closest rivals while Dolphins who are tenth on the table are left to rue their fate.

Enyimba
John Gaadi/Sam Okoye 36th, Yusuf Mohammed, Ajibade Omolade, Musa Aliyu, Odey Ogar, Raji Nojeem, Sunday Mba, Atanda Shakibu, Eric Fasindo/Ifeanyi Obediah 50th, Daniel Njoku/ Ibrahim Jubrin 74th, Muri Ogunbuyi

Dolphins
Austin Brown, Uduak Udofia, Jide Micheal, Kingsley Williams, Ahmed Abdulrahman, Obinna Nnodim, Efosa Eguakun, Victor Ezeji, Endurance Idahor, Victor Babayaro, Kelechi Osunwa

Cautions
Kingsley Williams/ Dolphins/47th minute
Muri Ogunbuyi/ Enyimba/ 61st minute
Ahmed Abdulrahman/ Dolphins 81st minute
Victor Ezeji/ Dolphins/ 87th minute

In other results from last weekend’s premier league matches, Julius Berger beat Zamfara United three nil while Nasarawa United were two-one winners over Gombe United.

In Owerri it was Iwuanyanwu NAtionale one, Gateway one while Rangers International triumphed two-nil over Lobi stars.

Insurance beat Elkanemi one-nil in their new home in Kaduna while Pillars whacked Niger Tornadoes two zero.

In Bauchi it was Wikki tourists two, Kwara United zero, while the result in Lagos was one goal a piece between NPA and Shooting Stars.

Enyimba with thirty seven points from seventeen matches have now gone five points clear of second placed Rangers who have thirty two points with one game in hand.

Shooting stars are third on thirty points while Gombe come a close fourth, also with thirty points.

At the bottom, Gateway still reign supreme despite their away draw against NAtionale.

Second from bottom are Tornadoes who have thirteen points from fifteen games while Gabros are third from bottom with sixteen points from seventeen games.

AFRICAN Champions Enyimba won't be intimidated by Al Ahly and Raja Casablanca in the group stages of the CAF Champions League, club boss Felix Anyansi Agwu has re-assured.

Anyansi who spoke with Sports Champion shortly after the inter-club draw in Cairo Saturday admitted that the People's Elephant are drawn in a tough group featuring Egyptian champions, Al Ahly, Raja Casablanca and Ajax Cape Town of South Africa.

"Enyimba are not scared. Rather, it's the other way round. We're the team to beat... our opponents should definitely be afraid of us," Anyansi remarked.

He said as 2-time consecutive champions, Enyimba have not only come of age but deserves respect from their opponents.

"I'm particularly happy that we are going to play Al Ahly, Raja and Ajax Cape Town for the very first time.

"Because, we have never met before, all the teams will sweat to understand one another... and that's good for Enyimba.

"We'll approach every game with deft seriousness, home and away, knowing that as 2-time champions we're the target of our opponents."

Anyansi described this year's CAF Champions League as "exceedingly tough given the calibre of the last eight teams in the quarter finals."

He insisted Enyimba would retain the glamorous CAF trophy for keeps, "God so willing".

League leaders Enyimba suffered only their third defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to lowly Gabros United.

Enyimba remain top and Enugu Rangers failed to close the gap in them after losing 2-0 at Kwara United.

Rangers finished the game with 10 men after defender Andrew Nwordu was sent-off.

Nwordu has also been banned for four matches after he attacked the referee.

Rangers are second with 33 points, four behind Enyimba while Gombe United third on 31. In another disciplinary matter Iwuanyanwu Nationale will play their next three home games away from home turf after crowd trouble in their 1-1 draw with Gateway.

They're so overconfident it seems and things could turn against them this way.

Theyre not overconfident its the fans and the people around them like the grovner, but in the team everybody is calm and ready to play but nowhere near overconfident.

http://nigeriasports.com/uploads/articles/5/2041.jpg League Leaders, Enyimba FC, on Sunday at the Enyimba International Stadium exacted their revenge on Champions, Dolphins FC, winning 2-1 in a keenly contested encounter that could have gone either way. With even exchanges from both sides, it was not until the 12th minute the first attempt on goal came through Muri Ogunbiyi who tried to bend the ball around Keeper, Austin Brown but it went slightly wide.

Three minutes later Kingsley Williams headed out a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade but it landed at the feet of Musa Aliyu who tried a canon from thirty yards but it went way off the mark.

A minute later it was the champions continuing from where Enyimba left off as Efosa Eguakun tried to make his way into the Enyimba eighteen yard box but he was brought down for a free kick which was taken by Obinna Nnodim.

The effort rattled John Gaadi but the goalkeeper recovered on time before Osunwa could get to the loose ball.

Returnee striker, Endurance Idahor also tried to get into the statistics book, making a forty yard run all the way from the Dolphins eighteen into Enyimba’s area on twenty two minutes but the ball was cleverly taken off his feet by Musa Aliyu to the delight of the crowd.

It was still Dolphins taking the game by the scruff of its neck as Kelechi Osunwa got to the ball at the edge of the Enyimba box, his flick freed Victor Ezeji but Keeper John Gaadi and Ajibade Omolade sandwiched him before he could control the ball leading to an injury to Keeper Gaadi.

On resumption of play (32nd) Endurance Idahor continued to pester the Enyimba defence until he won a corner which was wasted anyway.

Two minutes later, Ezeji, Osunwa and Idahor combined well at the edge of the Enyimba box releasing Victor Babayaro who’s thirty yarder was saved by an obviously injured Gaadi.

Governor Kalu takes coaching duties

At this point an enraged, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu dashed down the State box straight to Enyimba’s bench to tongue lash Coach Okey Emordi on why he still left Gaadi on the pitch when he was injured.

At this point, Sam Okoye came in for John Gaadi but the Governor remained seated on the Enyimba bench with over twenty security personnel standing behind him.

In the 38th minute, Dolphins Keeper began his case for national recognition when he leaped high up in the air to stop a glancing header from Musa Aliyu which was as good as in the net.

The last five minutes of the half probably had more drama than the first forty minutes; first it was Williams who tried a pile driver from thirty yards that was stopped easily by Okoye with five minutes to go.

A minute later, Brown again saved Dolphins when he stretched full length to parry a free kick taken by Ajibade Omolade.

Just as the spectators were still discussing that save, Keeper Brown again was called to duty as he dived full length to save a point blank shot from Atanda Shakibu.

Just before the half time whistle sounded, Musa Aliyu intelligently turned away Victor Babayaro but his effort went wide off the mark.

Four minutes into the restart, IFeanyi Obediah came in for Eric Fashindo and almost scored with his first touch of the ball a minute later when Uduak Udofia cleared the ball unto his path, but it went slightly wide.

On fifty three minutes, Idahor steals the ball from Odey Ogar but Sam Okoye was alert, stopping his shot in its tracks.

A minute later it was Enyimba again as Shakibu went clear of the Dolphins defence but hit the upright.

Efosa Eguakun who was having a quiet game got the spectators to notice him when he cleverly turned out Omolade, but his pull out which got to the feet of Idahor was blasted wide in what could rank as the miss of the day.

Not to be out done by the ambitious Port Harcourt side, Enyimba took up the gauntlet once more and eventually got the opener through a goal mouth scramble in the 60th minute.

Austin Brown had saved twice but his second attempt landed at the feet of Muri Ogunbuyi who cleverly tucked in behind a hapless Brown and more than four green shirted Dolphins players who were ball watching all the time.

But it took Dolphins only five minutes to recover as Victor Ezeji got behind the Enyimba defence to nod home a pull out from Uduak Udofia.

Without allowing the equalizer to dampen their spirit, Enyimba almost went ahead a minute later but Atanda shakibu’s header went wide.

With fourteen minutes to go Dolphins would have Brown to thank for keeping them alive as he had to stretch full length once again to parry a shot from Shakibu before Uduak Udofia cleared out the loose ball.

On eighty three minute, Muri Oginbuyi showed flashes of tight ball handling when he almost freed substitute Ibrahim Jubrin in Dolphins box but Obinna Nnodim’s outstretched leg saved the day.

With two minutes to go, Muri Ogunbuyi latched on a mis-kick by Victor Babayaro and put Yusuf Mohammed into space.

Yusuf’s pull out got the Shakibu who cheekily back heeled the ball behind Austin Brown for the decider.

“I am very disappointed we could not hold on with two minutes to go,” Dolphins Technical Adviser, Musa Abdulahi told nigeriasports.com after the match.

“I came here to win because that is what I did last year, but when you have to lose a game with just two minutes to go after playing so well, you must be disappointed.”

Atanda Shakibu was so delighted after scoring the winner that he could hardly stand on his feet.

“Scoring the winning goal was sweet, especially against a side like Dolphins,” Shakibu told nigeriasports.com.

Enyimba have now gone five points clear of their closest rivals while Dolphins who are tenth on the table are left to rue their fate.

Enyimba
John Gaadi/Sam Okoye 36th, Yusuf Mohammed, Ajibade Omolade, Musa Aliyu, Odey Ogar, Raji Nojeem, Sunday Mba, Atanda Shakibu, Eric Fasindo/Ifeanyi Obediah 50th, Daniel Njoku/ Ibrahim Jubrin 74th, Muri Ogunbuyi

Dolphins
Austin Brown, Uduak Udofia, Jide Micheal, Kingsley Williams, Ahmed Abdulrahman, Obinna Nnodim, Efosa Eguakun, Victor Ezeji, Endurance Idahor, Victor Babayaro, Kelechi Osunwa

Cautions
Kingsley Williams/ Dolphins/47th minute
Muri Ogunbuyi/ Enyimba/ 61st minute
Ahmed Abdulrahman/ Dolphins 81st minute
Victor Ezeji/ Dolphins/ 87th minute

In other results from last weekend’s premier league matches, Julius Berger beat Zamfara United three nil while Nasarawa United were two-one winners over Gombe United.

In Owerri it was Iwuanyanwu NAtionale one, Gateway one while Rangers International triumphed two-nil over Lobi stars.

Insurance beat Elkanemi one-nil in their new home in Kaduna while Pillars whacked Niger Tornadoes two zero.

In Bauchi it was Wikki tourists two, Kwara United zero, while the result in Lagos was one goal a piece between NPA and Shooting Stars.

Enyimba with thirty seven points from seventeen matches have now gone five points clear of second placed Rangers who have thirty two points with one game in hand.

Shooting stars are third on thirty points while Gombe come a close fourth, also with thirty points.

At the bottom, Gateway still reign supreme despite their away draw against NAtionale.

Second from bottom are Tornadoes who have thirteen points from fifteen games while Gabros are third from bottom with sixteen points from seventeen games.

Hard luck! told you el ahly will go unbeaten :D

Hard luck! told you el ahly will go unbeaten :D

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/yahoo.gifhttp://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/victory.gif

:ewan: :lui: :ewan:

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/clapping.gifhttp://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/good.gif
[img]http://www.asmilies.com/smiliespic/smiliestxt/009.gifhttp://www.asmilies.com/smiliespic/smiliestxt/009.gif

Hard luck! told you el ahly will go unbeaten :D




My ass.