Although Enyimba Chairman, Nwankwo Kanu, acknowledges that his team’s inability to beat Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya to qualify for the second round of the CAF Champions League qualifying series is a huge setback for the side, the former Nigerian captain believes the loss will make the club stronger.
Enyimba needed a solitary goal in Aba to beat Al Ahly to the second round ticket after losing the away leg of the qualifier by three goals to four, but they, surprisingly, could not get the strike in the presence of their supporters.
Sunday’s game was Kanu’s first major assignment with the two-time African champions, but he says the defeat should not define his tenure as chairman of the Peoples Elephant.
He is consoled that although Enyimba could not score, they played well and dominated the game from beginning to the end.
“We wanted to be at the group stage and do what we had to do, but all of us know that although one plus one is two, it is not so in football.
“We could not score a goal to win today, but sometimes, it happens and it happens to the best team and best players, and that is football,” he said.
Kanu said the club would recruit more talented and matured players to compliment the current players, adding that with time, Enyimba supporters would see a team they would be proud of.
Earlier, a proud assistant coach of Al Ahly, Wanis Kheir, said his team came with a game plan to defend their lead, which they succeeded in executing perfectly.
He acknowledged that Enyimba was a formidable opposition, which Al Ahli needed to be tactically disciplined to contain.