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The reigning NPFL champions needed to avoid defeat in order to seize control of their destiny, but costly errors now leave them on the brink. In a broadly strategic sense, the easiest way to win is to force an opponent into an area of weakness, thereby provoking errors. Enyimba’s 2-1 Caf Champions League loss to Mamelodi Sundowns showcased two teams who spent periods outside their comfort zone, and ultimately the hosts dealt with it better.
The difference however was that, in Enyimba’s caseit was , they who engineered their own discomfort quite readily. For a side that insists so much on defending deep within their own area, the reigning NPFL champions really aren’t very good at it. Both their centre-backs are physical man-markers, in particular captain Chinedu Udoji has made a name for himself as something of a hard man who plays with his heart on his sleeve.
It is eye-catching, but masks a lot of tactical deficiencies within the player’s game and, in certain situations, such as in Pretoria, can be overtly counterproductive.
Sundowns opened the scoring after Keagan Dolly’s low, slightly scuffed cut-back was hashed up, allowing Leonardo Castro to bundle home. By unnecessarily going to ground in a bid to clear, Udoji lost control off the situation and slid the clearance against the retreating Kelly Kester, the sort of error that results when tackling, usually a last resort, becomes a trademark.
For their part, Enyimba did a fine job applying pressure in midfield and forcing turnovers in the first half. The pressing actions lacked coordination though, and with greater composure on the ball, the hosts would have broken through quite easily-the visitors simply closed down the ball carrier as quickly and aggressively as possible, but without proper spacing, there was a lot of energy unnecessarily expended. It told after the break, as there was a huge drop-off in intensity and closing down.
What it did do, though, was ensure the People’s Elephant faced no period of sustained pressure in the first period. Indeed, they looked more likely to go ahead, even in spite of the puzzling decision to exclude the competition’s top scorer, Mfon Udoh, from the start. Nzube Anaezemba came into the side and played loosely on the left of a midfield three, shuttling out to the flank to close down the Downs’ full-back. Christian Pyagbara was nominally on the left of the front three, but played extremely narrow, almost as a strike partner for Ifeanyi Onuigbo, while Daniel Etor played a more traditional wide role on the right.
It was an unfamiliar shape, Paul Aigbogun’s attempt at a compromise between a front two and midfield superiority. It didn’t make for fluency when putting together attacking moves from deep though; instead, Enyimba looked brightest when pressing high and winning the ball in advanced areas. Onuigbo lacks refinement, but his energy was crucial here, and while he was often wasteful (and clumsy) in possession, he stung the palms of Wayne Sandilands in the first half, and also played Pyagbara in behind the defence for a decent chance which the experienced goalkeeper sped out to smother.
This aside, the two-time African champions also found joy when the impressive Anaezemba stormed forward with intent. The diminutive midfielder offers dynamism, and gaps appeared whenever he was able to combine with midfield partner Ikechukwu Ibenegbu between the lines. This, sadly, happened without any real regularity.
Dare Ojo’s stunning equaliser seemed to breathe new life into Enyimba, imbuing the visitors with a visible swagger and newfound impetus: Pyagbara again failed to beat Sandilands after running onto a through ball, and substitute Udoh was similarly thwarted. That was before Wayne Arendse’s sucker punch with 13 minutes to play, a crushing blow which brought the Elephant to its knees, wheezing.
Surprisingly, there was no rally, no urgency in the closing stages, a meek surrender hinting at a pitiful lack of character.
.@EnyimbaFC travel to face Zamalek on the 12th of August. A loss there, and it's all over for the Nigerian champions. #CAFCL#MSFCEFC
On their brilliant white strip, above and below the club badge, are nine stars, two for their Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004, and the rest for each of their league titles. If it feels like overkill, that’s because it is; think of it as the sign of a club undergoing an existential crisis, overcompensating in a bid to reconnect with its identity. This teams bears the name and the crest, but in those final 10 minutes, it looked nothing like Enyimba.
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