Enyimba head coach Stanley Eguma has lauded the influence of veteran striker Brown Ideye following his impactful performance in the team’s 4-1 triumph over Black Bullets of Mozambique in the CAF Confederation Cup. The victory marked Enyimba’s first win of the group stage after four matches, breathing new life into their campaign.

Ideye, who came off the bench, scored a crucial goal and added depth to Enyimba’s attacking options. Despite not yet reaching full match fitness, his presence proved pivotal in the Aba Elephants overcoming their recent scoring struggles.

“Brown Ideye, we all know him as a household name. His presence is a big plus to the team. He might not be fully fit because he just joined the team, but it’s a gradual process. In the near future, he will add more to the team.

Eguma described the result as a New Year gift to Nigerians and praised his team for showing resilience despite injuries to key players, including holding midfielder Daniel Daga. The coach also commended Innocent Gabriel, a center-back who stepped into the holding midfield role and performed admirably.

“We had to improvise at the holding midfield position due to injuries. We used Innocent Gabriel, a center-back, and he delivered. Today, we’ve been able to raise the pace and change to a winning mentality.”

Enyimba now sits at the bottom of the group with 4 points but remains in contention to progress. The upcoming match against Al Masry in Uyo on Sunday could prove decisive, especially with Zamalek (8 points) and Black Bullets (4 points) set to face off.

Victory in their final two matches would put Enyimba in a strong position to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, keeping their continental hopes alive.

Enyimba fans will hope Ideye’s continued integration into the squad and the team’s newfound confidence will propel them past Al Masry and into the latter stages of the competition.