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Clinical Hosts Punish Aba Giants’ Second-Half Lapses

Posted : 26 January 2026

Enyimba FC left Minna on Sunday with familiar regrets, as a promising away performance once again failed to yield points following a 2–0 defeat to Niger Tornadoes in their Matchday 22 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture at the Bako Kontagora Stadium.

The Aba-based side arrived with clear intent and executed their first-half plan almost perfectly. Compact in defence and patient in possession, Coach Deji Ayeni’s men slowed the tempo, denied Niger Tornadoes space between the lines, and limited the hosts to speculative efforts, keeping the contest evenly poised at halftime.

But football punishes hesitation—and Enyimba paid the price after the break.

As Tornadoes gradually increased the tempo, Enyimba struggled to maintain concentration and control. The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when a simple delivery from the right caused confusion in the box, resulting in an unfortunate deflection off Shehu Dabani that wrong-footed goalkeeper Kelvin Ogunga.

The goal changed the rhythm of the match. Enyimba were forced out of their disciplined shell and into a more expansive approach. Substitutions followed as Edidiong Ezekiel, Wonah Williams, and Nwaorisa Onyebuchi were introduced to force a response.

While the visitors showed urgency and commitment, their attacking push exposed familiar defensive vulnerabilities. In the closing stages, a long ball bypassed Enyimba’s back line, allowing Rickson Mendos time and space to race through and calmly finish in the 88th minute, effectively sealing the victory.

Niger Tornadoes’ clinical execution proved decisive, lifting the Ikon Allah Boys to seventh place on the NPFL standings with 32 points. Enyimba, meanwhile, remain 12th with 27 points, their away form continuing to undermine progress.

With another challenging away fixture against second-placed Nasarawa United in Lafia looming on Matchday 23, Enyimba’s margin for error grows thinner. The performance in Minna showed structure and intent, but until game management improves over the full 90 minutes, the People’s Elephant’s search for redemption on the road remains unfinished.

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