NPFL: Stanley Eguma blames profligacy for Enyimba defeat to Kwara United

By Wale Mustapha

Enyimba FC’s Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma, has attributed his side’s 2-0 defeat to Kwara United to missed opportunities and fatigue.

The defeat marked Enyimba’s third consecutive loss in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), following their rescheduled Matchday 13 clash with the Harmony Boys in Ilorin on Monday.

Two first-half goals from Wasiu Alalade and James Aiyemofu handed the hosts a commanding lead, reinforcing their strong home form.

Eguma, visibly disappointed with the result, emphasized his team’s inability to capitalize on scoring chances, which ultimately led to their downfall.

“We missed too many scoring chances, and when you fail to take your chances in a game, you’re bound to be punished,” he said.

The Enyimba coach also pointed to an early penalty, which led to the first goal, as a key factor that disrupted his team’s rhythm.

“The early goal we conceded through the penalty unsettled the team. It’s unfortunate. This is a game we should have won. We had the chances but couldn’t convert them, and I think that early penalty also affected the boys in the first half.”

In addition to the performance-related issues, Eguma called for better fixture management to ease the physical strain on teams playing both domestic and continental competitions.

“The organisers of the NPFL and CAF need to study the calendar and align the fixtures in such a way that it doesn’t affect teams playing on the continent,” Eguma suggested.

“For instance, we travelled to Kano from Egypt, and now we are in Ilorin, with a game on Thursday against Heartland in Aba. It’s very strenuous, and these players are human beings. They need time to rest.”

Despite the loss, Enyimba will be looking to bounce back quickly as they prepare for their next fixture against Heartland, with Eguma hoping for a better performance.