Enyimba play their last home game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign against relegation-threatened Lagos side MFM FC as the season gradually grinds to a halt.
In mid-week, a 2-3 loss at struggling Ikorodu United sounded the death knell to their hope of staying within touching distance with the league leaders and at the same time, remain in the title race. Now that dream of a possible title defence leading to an eighth title has been blown up in smithereens by the Oga Boys.
Would anyone forget Enyimba's last home game of last season in a hurry? Very unlikely. A record seventh league title was on the line with a jam-packed Enyimba Stadium in attendance and the main challengers, Warri Wolves were the guests. The Peoples Elephant needed a point, the visitors needed three and even when it looked more difficult with the hosts down to ten men, the 12th man helped the team over the finish line.
That was last season and what a day it was for the club. This, however, has been a different and indeed trying campaign but although every one of the 2015/16 season's home games were played away from the Enyimba Stadium, the stats from both seasons look similar. 2015 Home Records - P19, W14, D5, L0, GS32, GA9, 47 Points. 2016 Home Records - P17, W12, D5, L0, GS24, GA9, 41 Points
The expulsion of Giwa FC from the league means that Enyimba will only play 18 home games this season and should they record a win against Sunday's opponents, the club would fall a game short of their 14 wins of last season's home stats.
But one needs not look too far to see the reason for the differences in either season's end product. Enyimba earned an amazing 23 points away from home last year. That compared to the mere eight fetched this term is a major reason the title defence blew up in their faces. Which in itself can be attributed to the rising competitiveness of the championship. Unlike last season's two-horse race, there are no fewer than four to five teams still in the offing for the title this term.
The goals column also fetched lesser returns this year compared to the last. Enyimba would need to score eight times in Sunday's fixture to match last season's home goals column, a feat no team has attempted this term. It is a department the technical crew must revisit at the end of the campaign as the side never scored more than twice in home fixtures this year.
The Enyimba front line had taken several different outlooks this year and the most recent is the trio of Mfon Udoh, Musa Najare and Alloy Browne. Perhaps they could get the nod to continue should the injured Stephen Chukwude not make it back into the Enyimba fold in time for contention.
Sunday's fixture is about giving some joy to the fans many of who can only cheer from in front of their TV screens. It is also about three more points to ensure a respectable league finish.
credit: npfl