Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has blamed poor scoring ability for Enyimba’s ousting from the 2019/2020 CAF Champions League, Completesports.com reports.
Enyimba, winners in 2003 and 2004, were eliminated from the championship by Sudan’s Al Hilal on 1-0 aggregate following Sunday’s 1-0 loss in Omdurman in the return leg match of their Second Preliminary Round fixtures.
Shorunmu says Enyimba would have no one to blame but their inability to get the ball into the net.
“When you don’t score, you don’t win,” Shorunmu, a onetime Besiktas of Turkey shot stopper said.
“In the first leg (match) in Aba, Enyimba were unable to score despite numerous scoring opportunities.
“In Sudan, the goals couldn’t come as well. So, that’s the game, goals. When you can’t score, you get punished by your opponents and that’s what happened to Enyimba.
“The game is all about goal scoring. It has happened and you can’t reverse it. The only thing is for them to work hard and do better in the CAF Confederation Cup.”
Shorunmu would not want The People’s Elephant derided over the defeat by Al Hilal, claiming that some factors played a role in the poor run of the 8th time Nigerian champions in the continent this year.
“It’s a worrisome development. Rangers crashed out, Pillars and Tornadoes all are out of the continent at this early stage,” Shorunmu added.
“I think the inability of the NPFL season to start cannot be exonerated from the poor run of Nigerian clubs in the continent.
“If the (2019/2020) season had kicked off, the players would have been in a better shape going into the continent.
“No team gets better with only preseason games.
“Preseason games are friendly games while league games are competitive that put players in good shape.
“We hope the league starts so our teams will get their forms and shapes before their continental assignments,” Shorunmu stressed.
By Sab Osuji
3 Comments
Imama amakpakabo should be blamed…!
Imama is not in charge of Enyimba and Rangers is not out of the competition. The beat Pelican of Gabon 4:3 on aggregate.
Of course i know imama isnt in charge of Enyimba and I also know that Rangers only overcame an unknown Gabonese team like Pelicans via the skin of their teeth. What about Kano Pillars and Tornadoes….they fell at the very first hurdle?
Now inst it obvious that the same fate befalling our clubs on the continent is what has befallen our CHAN team too…?
This is the 3rd ex international that will identify that competitive match rustiness is a huge factor working against our local teams as every player in the NPFL is a victim of this non resumption of the leagues since 5 months ago.
If our clubs are suffering this badly, how much more national team players who were just called up 2-3 week ago….?
So since some people have chosen to close their eyes to the obvious prevailing circumstances that have led to this abysmal performances of our local teams and would rather call for the head of Imama, then we can also blame Imama for the failures of the clubsides on the continent too.