By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Enyimba FC will be counting on the expertise of their new Head Coach, Stanley Eguma to improve their fortunes in Group D of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup, today.
Enyimba, two-time African champions have had it rough, both in the domestic league and the continent, and that culminated in the management team, headed by Nwankwo Kanu to dispense of the services of Coach Yomi Olanrewanju; before hiring veteran tactician Eguma, whose last job was with Rivers United FC.
The People’s Elephant also bolstered their squad with the signing of former Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye, with the hope that the 2013 AFCON winning star, will add pep to their faltering attack.
The 36-year-old Ideye, who played for several clubs in Europe, joined the Aba-based club on a short-term deal, and his debut coincided with Eguma’s first match in charge of Enyimba, in a frustrating goalless draw with Bendel Insurance FC, of Benin.
An Enyimba statement on Ideye “the club delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye to the team, and the club said the aim is to strengthen their campaign for the remainder of the season”.
Most recently, Ideye played for Kuwaiti side Al-Yarmouk FC, and he returned to the NPFL after nearly two decades, having last featured for Ocean Boys of Brass, in the 2006/07 season.
His second stint in the NPFL is preceded by similar ones by the Late Rashidi Yekini, and the pair of Ahmed Musa, and Shehu Abdullahi, now at Kano Pillars.
Currently sitting eighth in the NPFL standings, Enyimba faces a crucial period as they aim to revive their domestic and continental campaigns.
The team recently began closed-camping in Uyo, ahead of their must-win Day 4 clash in the CAF Confederation Cup, against Black Bulls FC of Maputo.
The Mozambican champions were surprise 3-0 winners in the first leg, played in Maputo; and that was perhaps the last straw that broke the back of Coach Yemi’s camel, and occasioned his sacking.
Before that trouncing, Enyimba lost 0-2 to Al Marsey of Egypt and had to fight back to earn a face-saving 2-2 draw in Aba, against El Zamalek SC, also of Egypt.
Ideye’s eligibility for tomorrow’s game against Black Bull remains uncertain, due to the closure of CAF’s registration window; but the game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, kicks off at 5pm.
The other encounter in this group is an all-Egyptian affair between Al Masry and EL Zamalek SC, in Port Said.
