The Aba Elephants had their biggest star missing in Egypt and succumbed to the superior firepower of the Egyptians on Sunday
Two-time CAF Champions League champions Enyimba fell 4-1 in Cairo to last season’s CAF Confederation Cup losing finalists Pyramids FC in the first leg of this season’s quarterfinal.
No Nigerian side has ever won the CAF Confederation Cup, but Enyimba went to Cairo seeking to change the narrative.
New Super Eagles star Anayo Iwuala did not make the matchday squad due to suspension, allowing both Victor Mbaoma and Tosin Omoyele to start upfront for the NPFL side.
Still, the People’s Elephants began in stunning fashion and were in front after only 53 seconds.
Mbaoma found himself at the right spot to steal the ball from the opposing keeper and slipped it into the net to hand his side a precious away goal.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors whose lead lasted just a quarter of an hour as Ramadan Sobhi equalised for the hosts inside the 30,000 capacity 30 June Stadium.
Abdalla El Said then completed the comeback for Pyramids four minutes after the halftime break when he found space in the box to slam his effort past John Noble and made it two-one to the home side.
The challenge of Fatai Osho’s men was blown out within the space of ten second-half minutes when Ibrahim Adel bagged a brilliant brace for the Egyptians.
Enyimba’s best efforts to reduce the deficit were all in vain as Pyramids made away with the convincing victory.
The Aba Elephants will need to win by three goals without reply in the return leg in Nigeria to advance to the semifinals of the competition.
