Enyimba head coach Stanley Eguma has hailed his team’s CAF Confederation Cup victory over Black Bulls of Mozambique.
The two-time African champions defeated the visitors 4-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Sunday.
Reflecting on the match, head coach, Stanley Eguma, who recently took over the reins, described the victory as a significant morale boost for the team and a gift to Nigerian football fans.
“I will say that this result is like a New Year gift to Nigerians because Nigerians have been yearning for this kind of result in the continent,” Eguma said in his post-match press conference.
Eguma admitted that he faced challenges upon taking charge but emphasized the importance of building a winning mentality within the squad.
“Actually, when I joined the team a few days ago, what I met on ground, I wasn’t comfortable. I’ve been in the continent and I know what it takes to compete here. I spoke with the management and told them a lot needed to be done. Some key players were injured, but it didn’t perturb me. I had to work with the ones available,” he added.
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The coach also hailed Ideye’s impact, even as the striker works towards full match fitness.
“Brown Ideye, we all know him as a household name. His presence is a big plus to the team. He might not be fully fit because he just joined the team, but it’s a gradual process. In the near future, he will add more to the team,” he stated.
Eguma praised the team’s ability to adapt despite missing several key players, including holding midfielder Daniel Daga, who is on his way to Europe.
“We had to improvise at the holding midfield position due to injuries, and Daga’s absence. We used Innocent Gabriel, a center-back, and he delivered. Today, we’ve been able to raise the pace and change to a winning mentality.
The victory propels Enyimba back into contention in Group D, with their next challenge being a rescheduled NPFL match against Nasarawa United in Aba on Wednesday.
They will then return to Uyo to host Egypt’s Al Masry in a must-win clash on Sunday in the CAF Confederation Cup.
With renewed confidence and a tactical overhaul under Coach Eguma, Enyimba are showing glimpses of the powerhouse they aim to become once again on the continental stage.
By Adeboye Amosu
