Enyimba win Super Four

Posted: Monday, August 9, 2010

Enyimba claimed Nigeria’s season-opening Super Four trophy yesterday, but without needing to kick a ball after Sunshine Stars were beaten 2-1 by Kwara United. Sunshine, who played first against Kwara, were the only side capable of overhauling the Peoples Elephant. But they needed to win against Afonja Warriors and hope for Pillars to beat Enyimba in the day’s second game.
Like the Super Eagles at the World Cup, they failed to handle their own end of business, losing 2-1 to a rejuvenated Kwara United and handing the trophy to Enyimba.
Knowing what they needed to do, Sunshine started the brighter in pouring rain, creating chances in the early on that Ganiyu Anifowoshe and Dele Olorundare failed to put away.
Profligacy of that nature and timing usually slips by without retribution. But Kelvin Kpakor made sure it was not to be on this occasion. The son of former Nigeria international Moses Kpakor cracked home a vicious volley from 30 yards that left goalkeeper Afeso Attah helpless.
From then on, Kadiri Ikhana’s men looked a side reborn from the one which capitulated to Enyimba on Friday.
Kpakor, from the Kwara Football Academy, was as exciting as he was dangerous, and Sunshine could not handle him as continued to pose half a dozen diferent sorts of problems with his pace and skill.
Their second came at the other end of the half, with Ukeyima Akombo applying the finishing touch at the end of a fine interchange of passes among Kwara United players.
Emmanuel Sunday tried to spark the Sunshine revival past the hour mark, but there was to be no famous comeback for Solomon Ogbeide’s team. Enyimba can now afford to lose to Pillars in the second game, but this is a first trophy of the new season which starts in September.