Zamalek shock Enyimba 1-0 in Port Harcourt

Enyimba’s ambition of winning their third CAF Champions League title this year hit a major bump last night at the water-logged Adokie Aimiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, where visiting Zamalek of Egypt beat the Aba side 1-0.

Enyimba’s qualification for the league by defeating Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia gave Nigerians the belief that the Peoples Elephants would reclaim the title they last won in 2004, but yesterday’s performance showed that the Paul Aigbogun tutored team are still missing the ingredients needed to be champions of Africa.

Before the kick off of the Group B game, the news that Sundowns of South Africa had beaten Algeria’s Entente Setif 2-0 on Saturday to lead the pool was expected to ginger Enyimba to their own success. But the Egyptian side and the elements had a different idea.

The heavy downpour in Port Harcourt delayed the kick off of the game, but it took Zamalek just seven minutes of the beginning to take the lead through Bassem Morsy’s header, which went beyond goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai’s despairing dive.

Enyimba tried to rally for the equalizer but they found Zamalek’s goalkeeper, Ahmed El-Shennawy, at his acrobatic best as he stopped everything the Peoples Elephant threw at him.

There was a mild drama in the dying minutes of the first half when fans at the stadium rose in false celebration, only to discover that Joseph Osadiaye’s free kick narrowly miss the target.

Enyimba came back stronger in the second half, but they found the Zamalek defence too tough to crack.

The closest the Aba team came to the equalizer was in the 54th minute, but Ifeanyi Onuigbo’s effort was blocked on the line by a Zamalek defender.

Enyimba will travel to South Africa on June 29 to meet Sundowns in their second game of the competition.