Nigeria’s remaining representatives in this year’s CAF Champions League competition,
Enyimba International Football Club of Aba were held to a disappointing goalless draw by 10-man Al – Hilal FC of Sudan in Sunday’s second preliminary round first leg encounter in Aba.
Though dominant all through the match, the Peoples’ Elephant lacked the cutting edge on the final third to carry the day.
The Aba-based team, who now have an uphill task in the return slated for either Khartoum or Omdurman, gave their visitors an early warning when Nelson Ogbonnaya planted his headed effort from Stanley Okorom’s free kick into the side netting just five minutes after the start.
Heeding the warning, the Sudanese applied caution in their defensive approach, absorbing all that the hosts threw at them till the end of a one-sided first half.
Enyimba agonisingly came close to breaking the deadlock two minutes later when Okorom hit the side netting from a free kick almost on the same spot as the first.
Ghana import, Daniel Darkwa drifted up field and just when he was about getting a clear sight on goal, he was tripped by Abuaagla Named.
The Peoples Elephant’s centre-back, Ifeanyi Anaemena added his name to the list of squandered scoring opportunities when he swept a glorious chance waywardly over the crossbar some minutes later. This was after Onuwa Emeruwa’s sleek touch off Dimgba’s cross from the right.
On the quarter hour mark, Stanley Okorom stung the gloves of goalkeeper Salim Macoola with a rising strike from distance, but the goalkeeper did well to push the ball away for a corner.
Five minutes later, Al – Hilal were reduced to 10 men with Nazar Nassr shown a straight red card for violent conduct, after he deliberately stepped on Enyimba defender, Daniel Darkwa.
With the numerical advantage, Enyimba patiently worked and waited for the breakthrough as they encamped in their opponent’s territory and continued to pile countless pressure on Al Hilal’s defence line to no avail
Obi Damson had his effort parried by the goalkeeper in the 42nd minute and the ball came back gloriously for him, unfortunately his second bite at the cherry went wide off target.
For the first time in the game, the visitors sneaked behind Enyimba’s back line with Barnet Named getting to the byline, but his left foot effort was easily caught off by Keeper Theophilus Afelokhai.
Perhaps, the best chance of the half fell on Dimgba who found his way into the crowded Al-Hilal box. He twisted and turned all the defenders, who virtually got fixed on a spot but his shot towards the far post went wide to the consternation of the packed stands that included governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Both sides went into the break on equal terms. The restart followed same pattern as the first with Enyimba in absolute control of the game but unable to break down the visitor’s resolute defence.
Al-Hilal found an opportunity for a counter attack with Mohammed Darac firing a left foot drive that went marginally wide with Afelokhai fully stretched in the 51st minute.
In a frantic move to shore up his attack, Coach Usman Abdallah substituted Obi Samson for Bashir Abdulrahman and Martins Usule for Onuwa Emeruwa. The move almost paid off as Abdulrahman came close to finding the back of the net with a fierce strike from close range, but the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly, pushing the ball for a corner.
With seven minutes remaining on the clock, Stanley Dimgba fired a ferocious shot from the edge of the box but Macoola went down early enough to effectively gather the ball.
The Sudanese displayed tremendous composure, organisation and confidence as they repelled every Enyimba offensive till the final whistle.
Sunday, September 29 is the return leg date for the Peoples’ Elephant to visit Sudan and seek a qualification ticket into the group stage of the lucrative CAF Champions League competition. – With agency reports
