I really did have a good rest on Tuesday and rested my legs in a comfy position before another round of matches come calling. Wednesday is here already. Midweeks are the periods I usually use to start combing through the stacks into the weekend for game stats, past results and whatever I can mine from upcoming matches especially in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Let’s leave that and concern ourselves with Enyimba. After that loss in Port Harcourt to Rivers United over the weekend, I expect Enyimba to be mentally ready when they play hosts to Akwa United who were poor at home in the weekend, losing 1-2 to Sunshine Stars. Akwa United have struggled for form this season and that should be music to the ears of Enyimba players and coaches. Yemi ‘Yema’ Olanrewaju and his men can sure use this game to test their real strength.
The last time, the People’s Elephant lost back-to-back matches was in January, though both were road trips at Plateau United (0-1) and Katsina United (1-2). There should be no qualms in front of the Aba fans.
Dear Enyimba faithful, this is a game the team should win though I expect Akwa United head coach, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, to set up his team with a 4-3-3 defensive style that looks like an attacking formation with the central midfielder joining the back four to become five when under attack and the advanced two midfielders form screens in front of them. So this means, Enyimba will have to be lightning quick with the movement of the ball in the final third to breach Akwa United at the back. This tactics, Baba Ganaru deployed to good effect at Lobi Stars and it earned them a point after a 0-0 draw.
Nevertheless, Enyimba have one psychological edge over Akwa United. Their current coach, Baba Ganaru, has found Aba a difficult place to haunt for points from his time at Kano Pillars, Nasarawa United, Lobi Stars and Gombe United as head coach. Baba Ganaru has never won an NPFL at Enyimba, in 17 years I have known him to have been in management in the top division. Enyimba faithful just need to stay calm as I expect Yema and his boys to claim the full points.
Interestingly, Baba Ganaru’s last six visits to Aba have all ended in defeats (an aggregate scoreline of 12-2) including a heavy 4-0 loss while with Gombe United last season. If I add his first seven years at Kano Pillars, he has led teams to Enyimba 13 times and avoided defeat just twice (D2 L11) in 2008 and 2022, both occasions recording 2-2 identical scorelines. Amazing record Enyimba have got against him in the NPFL.
Now here is a little twist. Enyimba’s record against Akwa United in their last five NPFL meetings is not same with that of Baba Ganaru. Enyimba have managed just one win in those five meetings (W1 D2 L2). Last five NPFL home games against Akwa United have not been such a perfect view too (W3 D2). I know Yema and his boys will win the game because that is the only choice they have.
So, whatever the outcome, in terms of goals margin, I am certain that Yema will set up his team to get the job done.
