CAF CC: Ideye scores as Enyimba thrash Black Bulls to secure first win

Joseph Atule scored a brace, and Brown Ideye, former Super Eagles striker, added a goal as Enyimba thrashed Mozambique’s Black Bulls 4-1 in their CAF Confederation Cup Group D encounter at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo on Sunday.

The Peoples’ Elephant were inspired on matchday four of the competition, scoring twice in each half, and all goals were scored by their attackers Ifeanyi Ihemekwele, Ideye, and Atule.

In coach Stanley Eguma’s first continental match in the dugout for Enyimba following his recent appointment, the hosts pressed their opponents and forced an error from the goalkeeper, who passed straight to Atule, and the striker finished with aplomb on six minutes for 1-0.

Enyimba returned the favour on 12 minutes to hand Black Bulls an equalizer, Ejaita Ifoni capitalized on poor defending to level the encounter 1-1.

A couple of missed chances did not deter Enyimba, who eventually regained the lead through Ihemekwele’s brilliant strike on the stroke of halftime. The attacker chested down a cross before finding the far corner with a half-volley for his fifth goal of the season to become the club’s leading scorer and ensure Enyimba entered the interval with a 2-1 lead.

Enyimba continued to push for more goals and squander chances, but Ideye showed his wealth of experience with a clinical finish minutes after coming on as a substitute for 3-1. The 36-year-old controlled a pass and dribbled the goalkeeper before slotting into the net from a tight angle for his first-ever goal for the club.

Atule then completed the scoreline with another composed finish in the 90th minute to seal all three points, which lifted Enyimba to four points. The team remain at the bottom of Group D despite pulling level on points with third-placed Black Bulls.

However, their chances of qualifying for the knockout phase improved. One point separates the duo from second-placed Al Masry, while Zamalek is three points away.