CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba in a 1-1 draw of fading hope
Nigeria’s sole survivor in continental interclubs, Enyimba failed to beat the visiting Al-Masry of Egypt on Sunday in Uyo as they laboured to a 1-1 draw.
The scoreline and the 3-1 away win of Zamalek in the corresponding CAF Confederation Cup Group D duel against Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls has almost assured that the two Egyptian clubs will top and move to the quarterfinals.
Had Enyimba won, they would have been second and could qualify if they draw their last match, an away duel with Zamalek on Sunday.
Those are now mere conjectures. The two Egyptian sides will play at home as Zamalek, now with an unassailable 11 points will host Enyimba who have five points.
Al-Masry, second-placed with six points will host Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls. Even if Enyimba beat the already qualified Zamalek to get eight points, it may end up in vain if Al-Masry beat Associação Black Bulls to get nine points.
In the match in Uyo, Enyimba as they did against Zamalek started on the wrong foot, conceding a goal under nine minutes following a perfect header from corner kick by Mohamed Hashem.
Like they did against Zamalek, it was Ifeanyi Ihemekwele who scored in the early minutes of the second half.
That was where their efforts ended as the Egyptians overwhelmed the hosts. Al-Masry could have even gone up again, but Mohamed Hamada lost a 68th-minute penalty kick.
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CAF Confederation Cup
Enyimba v Al-Masry: Bang! Bang!! Bang!! Am here to bang goals, declares Brown Ideye
“My job as a striker is to score goals”, said former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye who is expected to star for Enyimba in Sunday’s crucial CAF Confederation Cup match with Egypt’s Al-Masry in Uyo.
He made the remarks in the pre-match press conference held on Saturday. Ideye was an instant hit when he was brought in as a substitute in the 4-1 demolition of Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls in the match day 4.
He scored within six minutes of being introduced into the match. Ideye has promised to deliver again with the support of his teammates.
Enyimba needs to score goals to upstage Egypt’s Al-Masry in the second position on the log.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It may turn out to be the most fiercely contested Match Day 5 in the CAF Confederation Cup as Nigeria’s Enyimba face Al-Masry of Egypt.
Both sides face zero option as neither will want to drop a point going into the last match day of the Group D. Just a point separates the second-placed Al-Masry and the fourth-positioned Enyimba who share the same points, 4 with Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls.
The Mozambique side is however ranked third on account of away goals scored in head-to-head matches. Black Bulls scored one against Enyimba who fired blank away, although both have a three-goal margin win in their respective home games.
A win by Enyimba will take the team to second position with seven points leaving Al-Masry with five. The projection is based on the likely win of Zamalek over visiting Mozambique’s Associação Black Bulls.
By that, Zamalek, with possible 10 point, will become the breakaway leaders of the group, leaving Enyimba to battle fiercely for the second Group D slot.
Such a scenario has made the Uyo match a potentially high-risk and possibly bitterly contested.
Al-Masry director, Mohamed Abdel-Karim is quoted by Egyptian publication, Ahram as expressing deep concerns.
He acknowledged the tough road ahead for his team in securing a quarterfinal berth, primarily as the outcome hinges on the last round of group-stage matches.
“Our players are mentally prepared and focused on attaining a positive outcome against Enyimba,” Abdel-Karim affirmed in anticipation of the upcoming game.
“The significance of this match against Enyimba is well understood by our players, given its pivotal role in our quest for the quarterfinals,” he stressed.
He highlighted the team’s aspirations, “We harbour great ambitions and will exert maximum effort to delight our supporters.”
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Egyptian side, Al-Masry will face a setback in Sunday’s CAF Confederation match with Enyimba in Uyo.
They will be without the services of talented winger Karim El-Eraky due to suspension resulting from accumulated yellow cards.
In November 2024, in the initial group stage encounter, Masry secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Enyimba in their home fixture.
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