Enyimba FC retained the Abia State FA Cup trophy with a 4-1 spanking of flamboyant Ahudiya Nnem FC of Abiriba in an entertaining affair at the Enyimba Stadium.
The Abiriba-based side had gone on a media tour and boasted about what they were “cooking” for the People’s Elephants, a hype spree which made fans troop out to see the team which beat Abia Warriors in the semifinal.
Enyimba started well and took the game to Ahudiya Nnem and their first chance arrived in the 10th minute when Moses Omoduemuke set up Ikenna Cooper but he shot wide.
Ahudiya Nnem came close to getting the opener in the 12th minute through Emeka Boniface but Enyimba captain, John Noble dived to full stretch to deny Boniface a goal, to the relief of the bench and the players. Enyimba’s persistence almost paid off in the 14th minute when John Noble’s long kick met Obioma who beat his marker and shot wide.
Ahudiya Nnem raised their game and took the challenge to Enyimba but could not make anything out of their adventurous forays into the Enyimba area. Ikenna Cooper watched as his shot came off the woodwork in the 19th minute after Uche Nwobodo spilled Eze Ekwutoziam’s cross. Eze also watched as his own shot came off the posts in the 29th minute as Enyimba piled pressure for an opener, amidst missed chances.
Enyimba finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute with a perfect counter attack. Uwana Asuquo found Eze running down the right flank, the winger beat his marker and sent a pass to Obioma who quickly went past his marker and floated in a cross to Moses Omoduemuke, the striker nodded past Uche Nwobodo.
In the second half, Enyimba started from where they left. In the 50th minute, Emeka Obioma got a fine pass from Nzediegwu, came face-to-face with Uche Nwobodo and tried a chip but Nwobodo saved it effortlessly. Obioma got his goal in the 53rd minute when he nodded Uwana Asuquo’s cross home and three minutes later, the impressive Ikenna Cooper scored a beautiful goal after beating the goalkeeper and some defenders.
Enyimba took over possession and had some chances but did not convert them. Emeka Boniface hit the woodwork for Ahudiya Nnem in the 79th minute as they battled for redemption and he almost got a goal two minutes later when he cut in from the right and shot on goal but John Noble saved his effort.
Ahudiya Nnem’s consolation goal arrived in the 88th minute when Maxwell Ijoma stole the ball from Alalibo Somiari and then chipped the ball over Noble.
Moses Omoduemuke responded two minutes later with a well taken shot to bring the score to 4-1.
In the third place game, Abia Warriors failed to honour the game and Uchecharia FC were awarded the game through walkover.