Williamsville beats Enyimba to top Group C

Williamsville AC of Cote d’Ivoire yesterday overcame Enyimba 2-0 in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup Group C match at the Stade Robert Champroux to climb on top of the table, reports africanfootball.com.

Enyimba has now moved down to third place on the table and could miss qualification for the next round unless it improves its away form.Both teams launched attacks in the opening stages of the game, but it was Enyimba, who dominated possession as it searched for an early goal.

Ibrahim Mustapha saw his shot miss the target in the 13th minute, before he was denied by Williamsville goalkeeper, Boris Mandjui seven minutes later.The host then took control of the game and registered its first shot on target on the half-hour mark when Jean N’da Koussi forced Enyimba keeper, Fatau Dauda into a save.

Williamsville then broke the deadlock through N’da Koussi, who beat Dauda with a powerful shot to make it 1-0 to the host in the 31st minute after bursting into the Enyimba box.
The momentum was with the home side as the half-time break fast approached and it nearly doubled its lead in the 35th minute.Djedje Dagrou, who was looking lively for Williamsville, missed the target from close range with Dauda rooted to the ground as Enyimba survived a scare.

Williamsville defender, Kouassi Attohoula pushed forward and he unleashed a powerful long range effort, which went just over the crossbar in the 39th minute.Thereafter, Enyimba stood firm until match referee Redouane Jiyed blew the half-time whistle and Williamsville took its 1-0 lead to the interval.

Williamsville was able to contain Enyimba in the early stages of the second-half with Serge Yameogo working tirelessly in defence.Enyimba coach, Usman Abdallah reacted by introducing Freedom Omofoma in the 56th minute as the visitors looked to level matters. But the visitors were struggling to penetrate the Williamsville defence, which was marshalled by Yameogo.

The central defender then scored with a header from Stephen Ettien’s corner-kick to make it 2-0 to Williamsville much to the delight of the home crowd with 14 minutes left.The hosts then controlled possession in the closing stages of the game with Enyimba doing most of the defending.

Ultimately, Williamsville ran out 2-0 winners over Enyimba on the day. Williamsville: Mandjui, Kouassi, Yameogo, Attohoula, Gbe, N’da Kouassi, Ettien, N’Da, Karidoula (Folorunsho 78’), Nahon (Ogbu 85’), Dagrou (Ouffoue 78’).Enyimba: Dauda, Abalogu, Ogbonnaya, John Uche, Ikouwem, Mohammed (Governor 80’), Oladapo, Osadiaye (Omofoma 56’), Chukwude (Alalade 64’), Mfon Udoh, Mustapha.