By Daily sports on December 7, 2020
Enyimba survived a Rahimo scare to progress 2-1 on aggregate after Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg match.
Captain Austin Oladapo gave Enyimba the lead on the hour mark before the visitors drew level on the night through Pape Ware with 15 minutes to go.
The Aba giants came into this encounter having recorded a 1-0 away victory in the first-leg played at Stade du 4 Aout, Ouagadougou, with Victor Mbaoma’s 75th-minute goal making the difference.
Knowing that anything short of victory would see them crash out of the competition, the Burkinabe Premier League team came to Nigeria with the ambition of shocking the two-time African champions.
As expected, Rahimo matched Fatai Osho’s men strength for strength, but could not beat goalkeeper Olufemi Thomas.
In the opening 24 minutes, four corner kicks tumbled for the hosts at the Enyimba International Stadium, however, none resulted in a goal.
After a fruitless first 45 minutes, Enyimba returned for the second half with all guns blazing. They almost took the lead in the 50th minute but Tosin Omoyele failed to convert Anayo Iwuala’s cross.
Despite the introduction of Mbaoma for Omoyele, the Nigerians struggled to take the initiative largely to their inability to convert their chances in front of goal.
On the hour mark, Oladapo gave Osho’s men a well-deserved lead after volleying home a poor clearance by the visiting side.
That strike was what woke Rahimo from their slumber as they attacked their hosts in their numbers with 19-year-old Boubacar Guira forcing a brilliant save from goalkeeper Kayode in the 64th minute.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute as Ware found a sumptuous moment to score the leveller.
Needing one more goal to progress to the next round of the competition, the visitors swarmed the Peoples’ Elephant’s backline but were unable to get the important strike.
In the closing stages of the tension-soaked encounter, Enyimba were reduced to ten men as Imo Obot was given his marching orders by the referee for dangerous play, but that did not halt their progression. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Enyimba players
Source Daily sports
Posted December 7, 2020
You may also like...
Moses backed to lead Spartak attack
Everton Maintain Perfect Start With Crystal Palace Victory...
Guardiola Leads Calls To Allow Five Subs In...
McIlroy set to debut at Sentry Tournament of...
PDP Crisis: We Lost Last Election Because Atiku...
Fatma Samoura to attend Africa Beach Soccer Afcon...

Chelsea's 'best player' Palmer fit to face Arsenal
I’m going to school Paul – Joshua
EPL: Arteta says Chelsea ‘fully deserving’ title rivals ahead of showdown
Osimhen undergoes tests today for Fenerbahce return
Atalanta must take UCL form to Serie A – Lookman
Crystal Palace's five-match unbeaten run ended by Strasbourg
EPL: Chelsea, Arsenal set for London derby as Man City hosts struggling Leeds
Pimblett to fight Gaethje for interim title in January
Madueke 'not worried' by fan criticism over signing
'More identity' - Frank takes heart from Spurs defeat at PSG
Slot having 'same conversations' at club despite form
Ex-UFC champ, Garcia warn Paul against Joshua fight
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,374 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,608 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,547 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,186 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,161 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,080 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,923 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,508 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,633 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,199 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,592 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,065 views)