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The Nigerians held Rayon Sports to a goalless draw in Kigali last week and boasted thereafter that nothing would stop them from getting to the semifinals of the competition.
Get to the semifinals they did, and in style, at the newly refurbished Aba Stadium, which was filled to its capacity by a crowd desirous of seeing Nigeria’s lone surviving team in continental competition win another game.
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The game was barely 12 minutes old when Stanley Dimgba put the Peoples Elephant in front on aggregate by capitalising on a defensive blunder to open scores.
That goal brought the fans to their feet, but their joy was cut short in the 25th minute when Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana equalised.
If the Rwandans were hoping to win the game on the away goals rule, their prayer was dashed by left back, Ikouwem Utin, who restored Enyimba’s lead in the half hour mark.
Scores stood at 2-1 as the teams went on break.
As if scared of being hit again by the Rwandans, Enyimba swooped on Rayon Sports after the break in search of more goals.
Three minutes into the half, Sunday Adetunji added the third off a sleek pass by Dimgba.
It got better in the 60th minute when Joseph Osadiaye’s deflected free kick made scores 4-1 before Isiaka Oladuntoye headed in the fifth in the 80th minute.
Speaking after the game, Enyimba’s Adetunji explained that the team did not want to take chances when the score line was 2-1, hence the all out attack on Rayon Sports defence.
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