Enyimba football club of Nigeria failed to make through to the group stage of the CAF Champions league despite winning 2-1 against El-Merrikh FC of Sudan.
The Nigerian team had lost the first leg of the playoff by a 3-0 score and needed nothing short of a miracle to score four goals against their opponents to make it to the group stage of the Continental competition.
However, the people’s elephant started on a wrong footing after Seif Terry gave the Sudanese club the lead, just five minutes into the game.
Some ten minutes later, the people’s elephant levelled things up courtesy of Victor Mbaoma’s strike.
Enyimba’s sustained pressure on El-Merrikh would however be rewarded with another Victor Mbaoma’s on the spot goal in the 50th minute, after a 1-1 draw in the first half.
Speaking after the game, the 2003/2004 winners coach, Fatai Osho, noted that his boys were unsettled by the Sudanese Saif Terry’s early goal, stating that his boys ultered their style of play due to their pressing need for goals which brought them to victory despite their inability to qualify.
Osho further disclosed that he takes blame for his sides defeat noting that if they were successful, he would still take the glory and pressure as well was part of the business as a coach.
Meanwhile it was all Joy and excitement on the faces of the Sudanese side who will now move into the money spinning group stage of the competition.
Speaking, the El-Merrikh coach, Didia Gomez said things went according to plans and that he was happy with his players, the artificial grass notwithstanding that they were able to pull through against a tough side like Enyimba.
He disclosed that his side has not surpassed the group stage of the CAF champions league in four years and expressed the hope that they could achieve such this time around.