Sunshine Stars 0-1 Enyimba: Obi fires Enyimba to win in Lagos

Samson Obi’s first goal of the season proved to be of great importance as it handed Enyimba a 1-0 win against Sunshine Stars at the Agege Stadium on Monday evening.

The forward, making his third consecutive start, stunned the home side in the 56th minute with a composed finish that secured Enyimba’s third layer win on the road.

Fatai Osho made minimal tweaks to the eleven that started the Confederation Cup fixture against Orlando Pirates, Emmanuel Ampiah and Cyril Olisema taking the places of Imo Obot and Anthony Omaka respectively; while Super Eagles invitees John Noble and Anayo Iwuala kept their places.

In an end-to-end opening, Enyimba’s unstoppable wingman, Anayo Iwuala initiated a move and combined nicely with Victor Mbaoma before being let down by his final strike, while Uzuchukwu Ugonna called John Noble to action with a strong drive from distance, before Sadeeq Yusuf sent his effort from the edge of the box wide.

Anayo continued to provide the main threat as Enyimba stamped their authority on the half’s closing stages, a spell that saw Mbaoma miss from point blank range after Okorom’s precised delivery from the right.

Enyimba eventually got their noses in front ten minutes into the restart when John Noble’s long ball skipped past the Sunshine backline and Obi anticipated brilliantly to hit past the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Gbenga Ogunbote introduced Kolade Adeniji and Ayo Adejubu as the Owena Waves responded to falling behind with a sustained spell of pressure on the Enyimba backline.

With the game closing out, Fatai Osho sent on Dare Olatunji and Dayo Ojo and watched his charges hold on to a vital win that shoots the People’s Elephant within three points of the summit.

FATAI OSHO’S POST MATCH COMMENTS

“We had to have the self believe that we could get this thing done. We know the quality we have and if we are not looking at that quality we might not play to our potentials. We tried to establish this before the players, how good they are and the reason why they have what it takes to get the maximum points. 

“Coming to Lagos is a familiar terrain to us, it is an environment that if you do very well you will get your points and we were able to establish it before the players during our talk and that sank into them; and they knew they had to go for it and they went all out for it and it’s really a good one getting the maximum points.’

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