The League Management Company (LMC) has lauded Enyimba’s qualification for the Caf Champions League group stage after beating Etoile du Sahel to the ticket on Wednesday at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse.
Chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko in a social media post congratulated Enyimba for their show of bravery throughout the encounter while urging Nigerians to take a cue from the People’s Elephant who showed the Nigerian spirits even when many had written them off after the 90 minutes.
“Enyimba have shown the Nigerian spirit today after they qualified at the expense of Etoile du Sahel. Even though they were three goals down but they never collapsed or gave up,” writes Dikko.
“They could have scored the away goal at the 86th minute to win the match but they couldn’t convert the chance that came their way. Even though they were two goals down from the first two penalties in the penalty shootout still they never gave up and they clawed their way back.
“ They were presented with the opportunity to close up the tie with a penalty conversion in their sixth penalty to win and they lost it but they never surrendered and they got the result by the seventh penalty to win the match.
“There is no better way to demonstrate the Nigerian spirit and this is how we use to know Nigerian teams. Enyimba have been able to revive our zeal and commitment to our fatherland. I want to congratulate Enyimba and to all lovers of Nigerian football. May this be the beginning of the turnaround to our international football performances.
Enyimba have thus become the first Nigerian club after Sunshine Stars in 2012 to qualify for the Caf Champions’ League group stage and they are joined in the last eight by Entete Setif (Algeria), AS Vita Club (D R Congo), Al Ahly (Egypt), Zamalek (Egypt), ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’ Ivoire), Zesco United (Zambia) and Wydad Club (Morocco).