Enyimba’s dreams of progressing to the next stage of the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup suffered a major blow following a 1-1 home draw against Al-Masry.

Head coach Stanley Eguma admitted his side failed to capitalise on their home advantage, offering insight into why the People’s Elephant stumbled at such a critical stage, footballrover reports.

Despite the setback, Eguma remains confident that Enyimba can still turn their fortunes around in the competition.

Stanley Eguma blames Enyimba’s costly draw on slow start

Reacting to the disappointing result, the coach expressed frustration over Enyimba’s performance, acknowledging that Al-Masry outplayed his team.

He revealed that his players showed excessive respect for the Egyptian side, particularly in the first half, which led to a sluggish start and an early goal conceded.

This lapse in focus rattled the team, exposing their inexperience at this competitive level.

“It was really unfortunate we couldn’t win the game. We trained very hard and mapped out strategies to beat the opponents. Unfortunately, they came to play the games of their lives,” the coach lamented.

The coach highlighted that his squad must overcome mental lapses and approach future games with more determination to avoid costly mistakes.

Enyimba faces must-win clash in Egypt after costly draw

With only one group match left—a tough away fixture against Zamalek—Enyimba’s chances of reaching the knockout stage now hang in the balance.

The Nigerian champions must defeat Zamalek in Cairo and hope other results in the group go their way.

Despite the odds, Stanley Eguma remains optimistic. He believes that if Al-Masry could secure a result in Uyo, the Aba Elephants can do the same in Egypt.

However, the Giant Elephant must rediscover their championship spirit to keep their CAF Confederation Cup hopes alive.

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