Emmanuel Amuneke, Technical Manager of Heartland FC, has heaped plaudits on petit winger, Enikan Francis, following the returnee’s Man of the Match performance in the Naze Millionaires’ 2–1 comeback win against Abia Comets in Sunday’s NNL Conference A ‘Oriental Derby’ clash at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Completesports.com reports.
Amuneke, a former African Player of the Year (1994), also identified missed scoring chances and poor away performances as weak areas in the team that he needs to address.
The former Tanzania national team coach, who steered the Taifa Stars to their first AFCON qualification in 2019 after 39 years, spoke after his side’s hard-fought 2–1 triumph over Abia Comets on Sunday in Owerri.
Francis Inspires Comeback Victory
Abia Comets’ Sugh Daniel found the back of Heartland’s net six minutes after kick-off, holding tightly to their lead until after the break.
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But Enikan Francis drew the Naze Millionaires back into the game with a 47th-minute goal to restore belief inside the stadium.
Francis, who left Heartland after the 2023/2024 campaign, returned to the club during the 2025/2026 mid-season transfer window from Akwa United. He zig-zagged his way through the crowded Abia Comets defence before cutting back for Jonathan Osondu to seal victory for the home side.
Amuneke Delighted With Returnee’s Impact
Asked about Francis’ impact during the post-match conference, Amuneke said Heartland are delighted to have him back in their fold.
“I’ve got to thank him. He’s a player who nursed the ambition of coming back here to play. That means he loves Heartland and wants Heartland to grow,” Amuneke began.
“We’re happy to have him. What we need to do is to continue to encourage him. He’s a very good player and where he plays (left wing) is where I played too. When you have a player who is daring, it’s always a plus for the team. He’s daring, can always run behind defenders — a player who can play one-on-one.
“He has everything (quality as a player). So, I’m glad to have him back in the team.”
Areas Of Concern: Finishing And Away Form
Amuneke identified incessant misses of scoring chances in crucial games, as well as not getting enough points in away fixtures, as deficient areas in the team, promising to redress them.
“I think the processes that have led us to create those chances, we’ll have to continue with that process,” the former FC Barcelona and Zamalek SC winger said.
“What we need is to be more efficient and precise in the final third. If we can be more effective, it will be much better for us as a team. When you create chances and don’t convert them, then it becomes a worrisome issue.
“But what really matters is that we’ve been able to score two goals in this game and get the three points.”
On Heartland’s inconsistent away form despite a win at Abia Comets and a draw at Gateway United, Amuneke admitted it remains a concern.
“Of course, that is also a concern for us. Even when you’re sleeping, you’re thinking about the fact that in away games, we’ve not been performing very well. During the mid-season, we tried to bring in some players we believe can fortify the team.
“Hopefully, we’ll continue to grow. We’re not a very good side in terms of away games. We recognise that, but hopefully things will start turning around for good and we begin to record positive results.
“It’s not that we’re not playing well away from home. It’s just that momentary loss of concentration can cause a team to lose a game. And that is what has been happening to us.”
Tactical Tweaks Turn The Tide
Reflecting on the ‘Oriental Derby’ win, Amuneke commended Abia Comets, describing them as a strong side, but admitted his team struggled in the first half.
“First of all, I’ve got to congratulate the boys. Their response to the game, especially in the second half, was perfect.
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“But I think the first half wasn’t a good one for us. In midfield, we struggled a lot and when you look at the goal they scored, it came from nothing, yet it became a goal.
“I’ve always emphasised that it’s not about where the ball ends; you also have to look at the source. In this instance, the source was the midfield, based on our inability to mark or cut off the movement that resulted in the goal.
“In the second half, we brought in some fresh legs and then we began to play to get the victory.
“Sometimes, you don’t need to dominate a game to win. Thereafter, we defended very well. We played against a very good team. We saw them in Aba in the first leg.
“Abia Comets are a very good team and you can’t take that credit away from them. But in this league, our objective is always to secure three points in every single game — and we’ve achieved that today.”
By Sab Osuji
