Enyimba leave it late to book CAF CC quarter final ticket

Nigerian club, Enyimba International produced a late steal against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates to book a ticket to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Nigerians needed a win to avoid elimination at the Group stages and dug deep, claiming the winner at the death through Cyril Olisema, who fired unerringly into the bottom corner from point-blank range in the fifth minute of second-half added time.

Pirates had made a brisk start at the Enyimba International Stadium, in Aba, Nigeria, through midfield maestro, Vincent Pule who forced a smart save from the Enyimba goalkeeper, John Noble in the third minute.

Pule again came close in the 13th minute with a fiercely-hit free-kick, which came off against the post with Innocent Maela failing to guide the rebound on target.

Enyimba were however the better side for most parts as the Aba club dominated without finding the cutting edge. Tosin Omoyele thought he had won it for Nigeria’s most successful club in the 90th minute but his effort was disallowed for offside. Olisema was not to be denied five minutes later, however, sparking celebrations in the host dugout when he scored.

Enyimba finished as winners of Group A with nine points, while Pirates – who also amassed nine points – also advanced to the last eight with nine points but finished second as a result of an inferior head-to-head record against the Nigerians.

Algerian side ES Setif and Libyan outfit Al Ahly Benghazi both finished in third and fourth respectively and were eliminated.

Story by Sammy Wejinya

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