The Aba Elephants’ only victory away to the Lafia lords came almost 16 years ago, and the visitors put on a near-perfect performance that helped them rewrite that piece of history on Wednesday afternoon
Three goals in fifteen first-half minutes was the game witnessed as ten-man Enyimba triumphed 2-1 over Nasarawa United FC at the Lafia Township Stadium in an NPFL game week eight encounter.
A Cyril Olisema penalty kick earned the former African kings their first victory at the home of their bitter rivals in over a decade and a half.
Before kick-off, Enyimba knew a win at Nasarawa is always a tall order, having lost eight games and drawn three of their 12 previous games against Solid Miners.
Their only victory away to Nasarawa came in a narrow 1-0 win on March 2007, 2015, in the first-ever league clash between both sides.
But the record books were shaken off the shelves with barely a quarter of an hour gone on Wednesday.
Enyimba took the lead against the run of play in the most fortunate manner. Nasarawa’s Abdullahi Abubakar diverted Tosin Omoyele’s cross into his own net, leaving goalkeeper Danlami Umar in no-man’s land.
The home side’s response was, however, instant and well thought out, as Chinedu Ohanachom rose highest to nod home the equalizer off a pinpoint Katoh Haggai cross four minutes later.
But just past the half-hour mark, Enyimba were back in the lead, Cyril Olisema scoring from the spot after Anayo Iwuala was tripped in the box by Sadiq Abdulrazaq.
Enyimba’s hopes of securing all three points received a significant blow on the hour mark, though, when the People’s Elephants were reduced to ten men after Omaka was dismissed for using his elbow on Ohanachom.
But Fatai Osho’s men held on gallantly for a delightful win that sends the two-time African champions three points clear at the top of the NPFL league table.
OTHER NPFL21 GAME WEEK 8 SCORES
Adamawa Utd 0-1 Akwa Utd
Kano Pillars 2-0 Jigawa GS
Wikki 2-0 MFM
Kwara Utd 2-1 Lobi
Abia Warriors 4-1 Sunshine Stars
Rangers 3-0 Dakkada
Wolves 1-0 Plateau Utd
Nasarawa Utd 1-2 Enyimba
