Enyimba’s continental struggles took another hit on Wednesday as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Al Masry in their CAF Confederations Cup opener.
This result marks yet another chapter in a difficult period for the Nigerian giants, who are struggling to find their rhythm on the continental stage, Footballrover reports.
It wasn’t the ideal start for the People’s Elephants, who were already under pressure heading into the away fixture in Alexandria.
With only one win from their last five domestic games, Enyimba’s struggles were clear enough, and facing Al Masry—who have been formidable at home—only added to the difficulty.
Enyimba’s struggles on the continental stage
Despite their history of strong performances in Africa, this encounter proved to be another uphill battle.
Al Masry wasted no time showing off their dominance. Just six minutes into the match, Mahmoud Hamada fired the Egyptians into a 1-0 lead.
In response, Enyimba tried to regain their composure and push for an equaliser, but their host maintained control from start to finish.
Al Masry’s defensive strength and pressing ensured that the NPFL side struggled to break through.
The People’s Elephants were denied much of the ball in advanced areas, and their attacking efforts rarely troubled the Al Masry defence either.
As the game progressed, Al Masry continued to look the more composed side until a second goal arrived, again from Hamada, sealing the win for the Egyptians.
The goal came after a scrappy finish inside the box, and it left Enyimba with little to show for their hard work. Despite several attacking attempts, the former NPFL champs could not find the back of the net.
This defeat marks Enyimba’s sixth consecutive loss in continental competitions, extending their longest winless streak in 20 years.
In fact, this result continues a troubling trend—Enyimba are now the fourth Nigerian team to fall to Al Masry on African soil.
Historically, Nigerian clubs have struggled to overcome Al Masry in their own backyard. Previous encounters have seen the Egyptian side claim home wins against FC Ifeanyiubah, Rangers International, and Rivers United in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Now, Enyimba has joined the list of teams failing to secure a positive result.
With their next fixture against Zamalek coming up in Nigeria, Enyimba’s fans will be hoping for a change in fortune.
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