CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ENYIMBA EARN VITAL WIN AGAINST SMOUHA

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Enyimba earned an important one nil victory over Smouha SC in a thrilling CAF Champions League first round, first leg tie played in Aba on Sunday.

The duel between Enyimba and Smouha SC
The Elephants required the brilliance of the Cameroonian Raphael Boumsong to seal a crucial home win ahead of the return leg in a fortnight. Boumsong replaced Bashir Abdulrahman two minutes after the break and nine minutes later he was on target with a powerful header to drive the capacity crowd wild.

Any fears of a repeat of the game against Akwa United only a week ago was effectively blown apart by Boumsong's towering header.

Enyimba were in control for long spells but lacked the cutting edge needed to unlock a Smouha side, content with sitting deep and soaking up the pressure. Whenever they were pressed hard and long, they would take turns falling on the grass and demand for treatment.

Two early shots from Sokari Kingsley tested goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi and set the tone for a pulsating first half but the former champions failed to make their superiority count. Etor Daniel was also a thorn in the side of the visitors and should have put Enyimba in front much earlier but his left foot shot in the 20th crashed off the upright.

The restart saw Kadiri Ikhana introduce Chinonso Okonkwo and Raphael Boumsong and the latter proved to be an inspired change as he went on to score the decisive goal.

But it could have been a different story for the home team had Koudao Hermann timed his run in the 65th minute when he raced past Chinedu Udoji to head home, beyond the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper Chijioke Ejiogu.

The goal was rightly disallowed for offside, much to the disappointment of Helmy Toulan, Smouha's head coach.

Enyimba will take some solace in the knowledge that the Egyptians managed only two shots on target throughout the game, showing just why they had scored only one goal in three CAF Champions League games.

The return leg will be played in a fortnight in the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt.


Source: enyimbafc.net

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