Enyimba FC’s quest for a place in the knockout stage of the 2024/25 CAF Confederations Cup took a significant hit on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Egyptian side Al Masry at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Despite a heroic penalty save by goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena, the People’s Elephant failed to convert their dominance into a crucial victory, leaving their fate in the competition hanging in the balance.
The match began on a shaky note for Enyimba, whose defensive frailties were exposed just eight minutes into the game.
Mohammed Hammash took full advantage of lax set-piece defending to ghost in and head home the opener, silencing the home crowd.
The early goal seemed to unsettle the two-time CAF Champions League winners, who struggled to find their rhythm as the well-organized Egyptians pressed high and exploited the flanks with threatening aerial crosses.
Al Masry, chasing an away win to bolster their own qualification hopes, looked more composed and dangerous in possession, with their counter-attacking approach putting the Enyimba defense under constant pressure.
The second half started with renewed vigor for the hosts. Ifeanyi Ihemekwele, Enyimba’s standout performer in the game alongside Ani Ozoemena, restored parity in the 47th minute with a daring header inside the box—his third goal of the campaign.
His effort briefly reignited hope for the People’s Elephant, but poor finishing in front of goal became their Achilles’ heel.
Even the introduction of veteran forward, Brown Ideye, a 2013 AFCON winner, could not inspire the Aba giants to find the decisive goal.
Time and again, Enyimba squandered golden opportunities, leaving Coach Stanley Eguma visibly frustrated on the sidelines.
The turning point of the game came midway through the second half when Al Masry were awarded a penalty. Ani Ozoemena, Enyimba’s dependable CHAN goalkeeper, rose to the occasion, diving expertly to deny the visitors what would have been a devastating second goal.
His save not only kept Enyimba in the game but also highlighted his growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s finest shot-stoppers.
After the match, Coach Stanley Eguma admitted his side’s lethargic first-half performance cost them dearly.
“We approached the game too cautiously and gave Al Masry too much respect,” he lamented.
Coach Eguma also pointed to the absence of key players, including, Eze Ekwutoziam, Imo Obot, Clinton Jephta and Daniel Daga (who has since moved for greener pastures in Europe) as a significant challenge, forcing him to improvise with Innocent Gabriel (Center Back) deployed as a Defensive midfielder
The team’s grueling schedule—five games in just two weeks—was evident in their slow buildup.
While Eguma downplayed fatigue as an excuse, the signs of wear and tear were apparent. “We lacked sharpness in the final third, and that was our undoing,” he added.
With just one group game remaining—a daunting away fixture against Zamalek in Egypt—Enyimba’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage are slim. The Nigerian champions must not only win in Cairo but also rely on favorable results elsewhere to secure qualification.
For now, the People’s Elephant face a monumental task. Their legacy as two-time African champions may inspire them, but they will need to dig deep and find a spark of brilliance to keep their Confederations Cup campaign alive.
As for Al Masry, they will count themselves fortunate to leave Uyo with a point, but their missed penalty and squandered chances may come back to haunt them in the race for the top two spots in Group D.
The road to redemption for Enyimba may be steep, but in football, miracles are always a possibility.
Source/Enyimba Media
