Goals by defender Abel James and Victor Mbaoma, steered Enyimba to a 2-0 win over Wikki Tourists in their MatchDay 20 encounter decided in Aba on Sunday.
The win seems to have restored smiles on Coach Finidi George whose side witnessed a slide in fortunes after a fairy tale start to his first season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)
He told www.npfl.ng that the team will now focus on sustaining the momentum after the win in Aba on Sunday.
“I’m quite satisfied because it was a difficult game but starting well is always important.
“This was how we started the first stanza but along the line something did not go right. We hope we can keep this momentum going,” he posited.
On his wingers creating assists for both goals, Finidi, himself a winger during his playing days hopes they continue to do well.
“We had to make some rotations, others have been playing for some time and this two weeks (break) that we had, we worked on some players and we try to give them the opportunity.
“They’ve used it well and we are quite happy, hopefully they build on that and do better in the next match,” said Finidi.
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Despite recording just one shot on target throughout the encounter, Wikki Tourists coach Kabiru Dogo said that he is satisfied with his team’s performance.
“For me, I believe the two teams played very well. Although we didn’t score a goal but I’m satisfied with the performance of my boys and I say congratulations to Enyimba,” began Dogo to www.npfl.ng
“Football is all about goals, the difference is the goal. No matter how you play, if there’s no goal, that is the motivation Enyimba needed (in the first half) so I believe my team played very well today even better than we did (against Enyimba) last time but we were not that lucky,” he added
Former FC Ifeanyiubah defender James had to wait for twenty match days before making his full debut for the side and made it count when he guided home Sadiq Abubakar’s header to give the People’s Elephant an important lead in the 37th minute.
Club’s top scorer Mbaoma doubled his team’s advantage four minutes after the break when he stroked Gabriel Orok’s low cross high and beyond Wikki goalkeeper Mohammed Galadima after some brilliant play by the winger.
Enyimba held on for the clean sheet, ensuring that Wikki could not break their defence after 180 minutes of football this season. It was also the first time Enyimba were winning a league game by more than one-goal margin this term.
Both teams will be on the road this midweek for MatchDay 21 action. Enyimba will be guests of Abia Warriors in the Abia Derby in Okigwe while Wikki Tourists will play their first game in Kaduna where they have been banished to as Sunshine Stars come calling.
Match Details
Enyimba XI
12. Olorunleke Ojo 32. Bilal Yakubu (Chigozie Obasi 68′) 3. Daniel Darkwah 16. Philip Ozor (Adekunle Adeleke 68′) 18. Pascal Eze 28. Abel James 19. Gabriel Orok (Ekene Awazie 68′) 34. Fatai Abdullahi 9. Emeka Obioma (Jean-Marie Guera 87′) 25. Victor Mbaoma 13. Sadiq Abubakar (Samuel Kalu 68′)
Subs
21. Sabirou Bassa-Djeri 5. Oluwatosin Adegbite 10. Jean-Marie Guera
M 14. Samuel Kalu 17. Chigozie Obasi 23. Adekunle Adeleke 26. Austin Oladapo 30. Ekene Awazie 38. Godwin Emmanuel
BOOKED: Adekunle Adeleke, Chigozie Obasi
GOALS: Abel James 37′ Victor Mbaoma 49′
Wikki Tourists XI
1. Mohammed Galadima 24. Taiye Muritala 3. Mustapha Abdullahi 17. Victor Okoro 19. Uchenna F. Udeh (Evans Ifeatu 55′) 25. Murtala Dagbo 18. Victor Dawa 8. Abubakar Aliyu (Christopher John 78′) 30. Alfred Silas (Anas Yusuf 55′) 35. Sunday Haruna (Manu Garba 645′) 37.George Enyia Owen (Promise Damala 55′)
Subs
34. Alladoun Kolimba (GK) 6. Evans Ifeatu 9. Manu Garba 11. Christopher John 23. Ismail Maiyaki 28. Nelson Abiam 33. Promise Damala 14. Anas Yusuf
BOOKED: Victor Okoro, Mustapha Abdullahi