Enyimba battle Egypt’s Al Masry for survival, Eguma sure of recapturing lost glory

Enyimba ’s new manager, Stanley Eguma, is optimistic that the Peoples Elephant will soon reclaim their place among Africa’s best football teams. On Wednesday in Aba, Eguma’s team struggled to a 2-1 victory over Nasarawa United in one of their rescheduled games in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL).

The nine-time Nigerian champions are currently placed seventh in the 20-team NPFL, albeit they have played two games less than the other sides in the league.

It is in the CAF Confederation Cup that the 2003 and 2004 African champions are stuttering badly. They have won only a game out of four, losing two and drawing one to sit at the base of the four-team group.

This Sunday, Enyimba will confront Egypt’s Al Masry in a CAF Confederation Cup game they must win to stay in contention for one of the two tickets in Group D of the championship.

Enyimba started the competition with 0-2 loss to the same Al Masry in Cairo, held another Egyptian side, Zamalek, to a 2-2 draw in Uyo before losing scandalously to Mozambique’s Black Bulls 3-0 in Maputo.

Although they managed to beat the Mozambican side 4-1 in Uyo, Enyimba’s position is such that they must beat Al Masry, get a good result from their game against Zamalek in Cairo and hope for favourable results in the other matches involving Al Masry and Black Bulls to progress to the quarterfinals of this year’s competition.

Eguma believes his wards can accomplish their own part of the bargain beginning with victory in Sunday’s game against Al Masry.

Speaking with The Guardian after the 2-1 defeat of Nasarawa United on Wednesday, Eguma said, “we are on the verge of recapturing our position in African football.”

Eguma said the players have been making his task easier with the way they