Enyimba beat Wolves to win Fed Cup title

Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe, was the villain
on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, as his
penalty miss handed Enyimba International their third
Federation Cup title, after full time ended 2-2.
In the women’s final played earlier, Rivers Angel
hammered Nassarawa Amazons 3-0 to claim their fourth
title.
The People’s Elephant had to battle back twice from
behind in regulation time to record their third triumph in
Nigeria’s oldest football competition, which was in its 68th
edition.
Both sides were cautious but the first chance of the game
fell to coach Salisu Yusuf’s side in the 8th minute when
Ifeanyi Ede back heeled a pass to Ayo Saka inside the six-
yard box but the forward’s shot was saved by Wolves’
goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah.
Osadiaye Jospeh shot wide inside the box after a brilliant
long ball from ex-Flying Eagles midfielder, Kola Anubi, in
the 15th minute but Enyimba replied immediately with Sibi
Gwar shooting just wide on the edge of the box.
However, Wolves broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute
when Egwuekwe headed a corner-kick down for Kundi to
cooly slot home.
Enyimba’s vociferous fans had something to cheer about
as their side grabbed the equaliser in the 60th minute after
Odah’s parried effort fell onto the impressive Esieme’s
path inside the box. The defender controlled first, before
releasing a pile driver into the net.
Enyimba picked up the momentum and substitute
Chimezie Amantor should have put the two-time African
champions ahead two minutes later, but he managed to
send his header, off a corner-kick, wide with Odah clearly
beaten.
The Aba side found themselves on the backfoot once
more in the 78th minute when Joseph put Wolves ahead
with a perfect finish.
But the lead lasted only two minutes before the
hardworking Uwadiegwu Ugwu blasted a free-kick past
Wolves’ wall and the badly positioned Odah to make score
2-2.
Indeed, Enyimba should have wrapped up the game in
stoppage time when Ugwu fed Amantor a through ball,
but the substitute hesitated before his shot was blocked
by Wolves defenders.
The game went straight into penalties and only Super
Eagles centre-back Egwuekwe, who took his side’s third
kick, failed to convert. But substitute Saviour Fidelis held
his nerves to convert the last kick of the game to seal
Enyimba’s third title and send fans of the People’s
Elephant into rapturous celebrations.
Wolves coach Ogbeide said there were no regrets.
“It was a matter of hard luck but it was a good game. As
soon as it went into penalty shootout it just became
anybody’s game,” he said.