At times, when a team need to win their league championship, their home form can also play a vital role in propelling them to such heights. In 2005 when Enyimba won their fourth Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title, they won all of their 19 home matches and conceded just four goals, scoring 53 times. The Enyimba Stadium in Aba was such an intimidating place to visit back then. In fact, a fortress!
This season the People’s Elephant are on track with making their home ground a fortress and have already won their first two home matches so far, albeit through slim margins. A 2-1 win over Lobi Stars and then a 1-0 victory over Akwa United in midweek. Now they can continue to build from there and make the Enyimba Stadium an unplayable arena for opponents again when Katsina United come calling on Sunday afternoon.
The last time Enyimba lost at home in the NPFL was 312 calendar days ago when Remo Stars stunned them 1-0 last season on November 29, 2023. Now they have put together a run of 15 home matches in the league without losing (W13 D2). Come to think of it, Katsina United do not fall in the reckoning of NPFL sides that usually pose any kind of threat to Enyimba in Aba.
No wonder, Enyimba head coach Yemi ‘Yema’ Olanrewaju is optimistic of coming out tops when his team face the Katsina side and he is keen to his men continue from where they stopped in midweek by getting another win on the board as their continental involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup is just around the corner.
He has thrown down the challenge to his playing personnel to ensure they take the full points against Katsina United.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game. They are a good side with a lot of experienced players but we must get the maximum points as we want to climb high up there on the log. That is the intention. The boys and everyone knows what is at stake. We can’t afford to drop our shoulders. Now we need to get as many points as possible before the group stage of CAF Confederation Cup starts,” said Yema.
I am sure Yema and his men will be prepared for another side that employ the low block tactics on their road trips just like Akwa United did in midweek. I expect him to possibly tweak the starters for Sunday a bit from the side that edged past Akwa United. He has a full complement of his squad to pick from.
Definitely on paper this is a game Enyimba are expected to win as Katsina United have lost all of their previous league meetings in Aba. The win will also be a good sign and a warm welcome for the families that will be involved in the launch of the Family Stand in the stadium on Sunday.
Of course be sure that at the end of Sunday’s game, ThatEnyimbaFan.com will give you everything bits and pieces that happened in the game.
