Eguma Hails Enyimba’s Grit After Ten-Man Battle In Kano As Ufere Says; “We Fought Like Lions for the Point”

Enyimba FC Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma “Capello,” has showered praise on his players after the People’s Elephant pulled off a gutsy 0-0 draw against NPFL newcomers Barau FC in Kano, despite finishing the game with 10 men.

The nine-time Nigerian champions, who were without seven key players, showed remarkable resilience at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday as they held firm against a determined Barau side in their debut topflight outing.

Speaking after the tension-soaked clash, Eguma lauded the discipline and character of his team, stressing that the single point earned was worth celebrating given the difficult circumstances.

 “One point is better than zero, especially considering the situation we found ourselves in,” Eguma declared. “We had to adjust our original game plan and some players featured outside their natural positions, but their commitment and discipline made the difference. I must commend their fighting spirit.”

Enyimba could have taken an early lead when forward Bassey John found himself one-on-one with the Barau goalkeeper, only to be denied in the first half. The People’s Elephant, however, were forced to dig even deeper after defender Mujeed Odufeso was shown a red card late in the encounter.

Eguma, one of the longest-serving tacticians in the NPFL, admitted that he had to instruct his side to switch into a defensive shell to protect the result.

 “We had no choice but to retreat and defend with everything once we went a man down,” he said. “The boys did exactly that and I’m proud of them. We will build on this performance and target maximum points at home against Niger Tornadoes next weekend.”

Captain of the day, Chinedu Ufere, echoed his coach’s sentiments, insisting that the squad was fully determined to leave Kano with a positive result.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we came here with the mentality to fight,” Ufere said. “Even with all the challenges, we followed the coach’s instructions and gave everything. We fought like lions, and this point feels like a victory for us.”

With the curtain raised on the 2025/26 NPFL season, Enyimba’s gritty display in Kano sends a clear message of intent: the People’s Elephant are ready to charge for glory, no matter the odds.