Enyimba beat visiting El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba on Sunday defeated visiting El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 1-0 in a Match Day 28 fixture of the ongoing 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Joseph Atule scored the only goal of the match played at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba in the 29th minute, after an assist by Mujeeb Odufeso.

Atule went on to win a N150,000 cash from the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc for earning the game’s Man of the Match award.

During a post-match interview, Enyimba’s coach, Stanley Eguma, praised his players and pointed out that their team confidence was gradually returning.

“It took some time for us to get things right, because when we came in the players’ psychology level was low and their morale was down.

“Now, I think the players are begining to believe in themselves because we gave them the direction and we encouraged the new ones in the system.

“Though, we have not really arrived but gradually we are improving and I think with time, we will get better,” he said.

The coach however said he was worried about the multiple goal scoring chances his team failed to convert, noting that converting chances into goals would help boost his team’s morale.

El-Kanemi Warriors’ coach, Aliu Zubairu, on his part said his team did not deserve to lose the match against.

“We don’t deserve losing to Enyimba if we had taken our early scoring chances in the match.

“I think, sometimes in football, teams can play well and not win. We played well and would have taken the lead before our hosts scored.

“It was a good game and we lost it. But we can get it right in our subsequent matches, starting from the match against Rivers United in Maiduguri.

“Our next match is against Rivers United and we have different approaches to home and away games.

“I am aware that Rivers United coach Finidi George came to watch my team play. But he may be disappointed to see different players and different tactics and tactical play in Maiduguri,” Zubairu said.

It was reported that the win lifted Enyimba to eighth position on the table with 41 points while El-Kanemi Warriors remain 10th with 40 points after 28 matches.