Ovoke Benard joins Bendel Insurance!
The former Kwara United winger joins the Benin Arsenal after leaving Enyimba by Mutual Consent.
Young Elephants suffers a narrow defeat in Ikenne against Shuffle Select
Shuffle Select’s second-half goal proved to be the decisive factor in a highly intense and thrilling match. Enyimba’s coach made three strategic changes to the starting lineup that defeated Eagle Star, aiming to secure another victory.
The home side, Shuffle Select FC, wasted no time in asserting their dominance against the visiting Enyimba team. In the 7th minute, Kazeem Benjamin cleverly found space inside Enyimba’s box and sent the ball low into the middle of the net. This early goal gave Shuffle Select a significant advantage and put Enyimba on the back foot.
Enyimba, however, refused to give up. They came close to equalizing in the 20th minute through Ndubuisi Okorie’s powerful strike, which sailed towards the frame of the post. The goalkeeper was forced to make a spectacular save from the rebound, denying Enyimba a crucial goal.
Enyimba’s misfortune continued in the 41st minute when Victor Ledee’s brilliant effort struck the post once again. This near-miss was a significant setback for Enyimba, and the first half ended 1-0 in favor of Shuffle Select.
The second half began with Enyimba pressing relentlessly for an equalizer. Their coach introduced a trio of talented players – Nathan Chinedu, Nelson Sule, and Samuel Okechukwu – in the 52nd minute. This strategic move paid off just 52 seconds later when Enyimba won a penalty.
Nelson Sule took the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, scoring a crucial goal for Enyimba. This equalizer injected new life into the match
However, Shuffle Select’s determination and resilience ultimately paid off. They struck again in the 58th minute, regaining the lead and crushing Enyimba’s hopes of a comeback. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Shuffle Select.
Despite the loss, Enyimba can take pride in their performance, especially considering they had just concluded a challenging series of three consecutive away matches. They will now return home to face Bayelsa United in ABA, eager to bounce back from this setback and secure a victory in front of their loyal fans in Aba.
