..El Zamalek SC Punch Q/final Ticket In Style…By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Ifeanyi Ihiemekwala was again the courageous one to bell the cat, when he scored in the very first minute, after the interval; as Enyimba Int’l FC of Aba, earned a disappointing 1-1 draw with visiting Al Masry FC of Egypt, in an unconvincing display, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, in Uyo, on Sunday evening.
It was a Day 5 encounter, and a must-win Group D tie for the Aba People’s Elephant, if they were to boost their chances of booking their place in the quarterfinals, of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup, ahead of their final group game in Egypt, against El Zamalek SC.
The Port Said-based Al Masry, were first to score through Mohamed Hashem in the 8th minute, and the visitors stayed in control of the game, until the end of the first half.
However, whatever Coach Stanley Eguma, and his technical crew told their players at the break, paid off instantly as Ihiemekwala scored withing 60 Seconds of the resumption of play, to draw Enyimba FC level.
While the hosts mounted a search for a second goal, that would put them in the driver’s seat; it was Al Masry that came closest to getting the lead, but Mahmud Hamada wasted a penalty kick, on 68 minutes.
From this point on, the game dragged to an end without any of the sides, able to cut out any more clear scoring chances.
The other Group D fixture, played simultaneously between Black Bulls FC and El Zamalek SC of Egypt, ended 3-1 in favour of the visiting team, from Cairo.
Hossam Ashraf netted a brace in a space of 3 minutes, that’s 51st and 53rd minutes, as El Zamalek SC trounced the Mozambican side, in Maputo; to emphatically seal their place in the quarterfinals, with 11 points, and match to spare.
Domestic rivals, Al Masry FC remained on second spot with 6 points, a point better than Enyimba Int’l FC whose 5 points took them to 3rd; and Black Bulls FC bring up the rear, with 4 points, after the penultimate round of fixtures, in the group.
Enyimba Int’l FC will on the final day, slug it out with an already qualified El Zamalek SC in Cairo; while Al Masry welcomes Black Bulls FC of Maputo to Port Said.
