Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday failed to break down a resilient Enyimba International of Aba in a Match Day 11 fixture of Nigeria Professional Football League.
The match, played at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, had several goalscoring chances begging to be buried by forwards of the home team with none hitting the target.
Fuad Ekelojuoti, a Sunshine Stars winger, had two chances through headers but could not convert any of them.
Kabiru Dogo, the Sunshine Stars’ Technical Adviser, was forced to make his first substitution in the first half when he was not impressed with the performance.
The best chance of the half came from Enyimba, with a shot coming off the woodwork, after Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper Ayo Ojo saved to end the first half goalless.
Usman Abd’allah, Enyimba FC’s Head Coach, in a post-match interview told newsmen that he had planned to pick all three points from the match but was still satisfied with the result.
Abd’allah said: “A draw is a good one for us, even though we came here for the three points.
“From the last two away matches, we were able to grab two points. But we thought we are going to get our first three away points today. However, we have one point, and that’s okay.
“At this moment, we are one step ahead because we are now picking up because the away points we have been getting are helping in replacing those we have lost.
“It’s a recovery of what we lost against Lobi Stars. I like the result and the fighting spirit of my boys.”
Later, Dogo in his own reaction said he was not happy with the outcome of the match, after he labelled the game one of the “best games of his team’’.
He blamed his forwardliners for not being clinical enough, noting however that there was room for improvement for the team.
He said: “As a coach, I’m not happy with the outcome of the match, even as my team played one of their best games today.
“But we could not get the goals in the area of attacking, because football is all about goals. I can not say we did well, we didn’t do well. But there is room for improvement.
“We had opportunities to bring in new strikers into the team but due to some problems and logistics within the club, we have had to be managing what we have.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sunshine Stars will next take on Lobi Stars in one of the league’s rescheduled matches, on Wednesday in Akure.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
