ENYIMBA FANS ITCHING FOR DOMESTIC RUN IMPROVE RESULT

Nigeria Professional League defending Champion, Enyimba International of Aba, after its victory in CAF Confederation to qualify to the next round of competition, return to NPFL with fans yet unimpressed with their performance at the domestic run. The campaign is almost halfway and results have left fans with bitter-sweet taste, sparking a bit of confusion on how the season could end for the 8-time NPFL Champions.Enyimba, after Wednesday’s 1-0 away league win at MFM FC, are placed 16th on the NPFL standings albeit with five games in hand. Whilst their uninspiring domestic campaign has been tainted with five defeats from 13 matches, the Peoples Elephant have been decent in the CAF Confederation Cup, progressing to the quarter-final stage with an emphatic 5-2 away win at San Pedro on Sunday.However, the said wins against MFM FC and San Pedro marked an end to a tumultuous month of January for Enyimba. The first month of the year left the team with one win in five matches across all competitions – including a run of three consecutive NPFL defeats without scoring a goal in the process.February has obviously started on a high for Fatai Osho’s team and the coach will only wish for more of the same. This is not only for the sake of moving up the ranks on the league standings but, perhaps, for building a great momentum ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter final tie with Horoya AC.The month comes with at least five league matches, including a doubleheader of the Abia derby against Abia Warriors, an away trip to Nasarawa United and at least two rescheduled NPFL fixtures from their list of unplayed matches.Enyimba boast an intimidating record against Abia Warriors, losing just twice in the previous 9 NPFL meetings with their state rivals. However, the 2019 league champions suffered defeat in four of the last five matches away at Nasarawa United.Interestingly, Enyimba have won in each of their three rescheduled matches this season, losing just once when the run is extended to 14 rescheduled matches in the recent seasons of the NPFL.Meanwhile, Enyimba’s record in the February of recent years is quite impressive – averaged 2 points per game in 2019 and 2018. A repeat of such this year will indicate a stark improvement on the current average of 1.4 points per game for this season.With the games set up to be a litmus test of character for Enyimba, it is up to the Peoples Elephant to either retain their elegant blue color or swim in the red zone of relegation. The ever surppotive fans of the club are watching to the new test for the team.