Enyimba Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma, has lamented the People’s Elephant’s missed chances in Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Kwara United in a rescheduled 2024/2025 NPFL matchday 16 clash at the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin, Completesports.com reports.
Kwara United took an early lead when Wasiu Alalade converted a 6th-minute penalty, while James Aiyemofu doubled the home team’s advantage five minutes past the half-hour mark.
The result condemned the nine-time champions to their third consecutive defeat across competitions, during which they conceded seven goals and scored just one. This poor run followed a 3-1 loss away to Zamalek of Egypt in the CAF Champions League and back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Kano Pillars and Kwara United.
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The former Rivers United Technical Manager attributed Monday’s defeat to missed scoring opportunities and the early penalty, which he said “unsettled” his players.
“We missed too many scoring chances, and when you fail to take your chances in a game, you’re bound to be punished,” Eguma said.
“Also, the early goal we conceded through the penalty unsettled the team. It’s unfortunate. This is a game we should have won. We had the chances but couldn’t convert them, and I think that early penalty also affected the boys in the first half.”
Eguma noted that his team improved in the second half and controlled the game but lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.
He added: “We took charge of the game in the second half, and I was expecting my boys to convert their chances, but unfortunately, they couldn’t. The misses were just too much today.”
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The two-time CAF Champions League winners have played three matches in one week across competitions, and Eguma admitted the hectic schedule is taking its toll on the players.
He called for better coordination of fixtures between the domestic league organisers and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ease the strain on teams representing the country in continental competitions.
“The organisers of the NPFL and CAF need to study the calendar and align the fixtures in such a way that it doesn’t affect teams playing on the continent,” Eguma suggested.
“For instance, we travelled to Kano from Egypt. Now, we are in Ilorin, and we still have a game on Thursday against Heartland in Aba. It’s very strenuous, and these players are human beings. They need time to rest.
“Don’t forget that we, Enyimba, didn’t observe the mid-season break. As a new coach to the team, I would have used the break to make adjustments to prepare for the challenges of the second half of the season.”
Enyimba have a game in hand — the matchday 20 fixture away to Bendel Insurance of Benin.
By Sab Osuji
