Enyimba head coach Emmanuel Deutcsh has praised his players for their fighting spirit despite Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Niger Tornadoes.
The nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL , champions endured a disappointing start to the new season at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.
Aliyu Goyi gave Niger Tornadoes the lead from the penalty spot five minutes before the break.
Enyimba responded strongly after the interval and restored parity in the 71st minute through Wonah Williams, who headed home to bring the visitors back into the contest.
However, Michael Olalusi struck seven minutes from time to secure maximum points for the hosts.
No Cause For Alarm
Despite the defeat, Deutcsh expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance and insisted there was no reason to panic after just one game.
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“Losing the opening match does not mean you have lost the league. I think it was a very good game,” Deutcsh told the club’s media.
“For the game, totally, I’m impressed because the pre-season was very hard. The two teams gave a good account of themselves. The league just started, you can’t say you’re winning the league now.”
Deutcsh Hails Enyimba’s Fighting Spirit
The Enyimba coach was particularly pleased with the way his players reacted after falling behind and their determination to get back into the game.
“Football is very dynamic, you can lose, you can win,” Deutcsh added.
“It was a very good game by both teams. You could see the fighting spirit; everybody wanted to win the game, but congratulations to Tornadoes on the win.”
Enyimba will look to bounce back when they take on Doma United in their next league fixture.
By Adeboye Amosu
