By Emeka Obasi
Enyimba broke Nigeria’s CAF Champions League 35-year jinx in 2003 in far away Egypt at the expense of Ismaili whose star striker, seven-footer Dramani Traore, emerged as highest goal scorer with seven goals.
It was sweet victory for the Elephants who were beaten 6-1 in at the same Ismailia Stadium by the hosts, under Coach Theo Bucker, in one of the group matches on a day Vincent Enyeama lost the captain’s band.
Both teams met again in the finals. Enyimba, 4-2 winners in the Aba leg of the group stage,were victorious again in the first leg of the final with a 2-0 advantage. Ismaili needed three unreplied goals to grab the cup at home but they could only win 1-0.
Curiously, since that triumphant outing, the Nigerians have continued to be tormented by Egyptian clubs. And when Enyimba retained the trophy in 2004, two North African teams, both from Tunisia, Esperance and Etiole Sahel, were trampled upon.
In the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup, two Egyptian clubs were drawn in the same Group with the Aba Ngwa side. Al Masry and Zamalek made Nigeria look like home, forcing their hosts to sweat before getting a draw.
Zamalek scored twice before Enyimba managed to wake up and equalise. Al Masry drew first blood. It ended 1-1.
In 2005, Al Ahly, led by Portuguese manager, Jose Manuel, beat Enyimba 1-0 in Aba in the group stage of the CAF Champions League. In Cairo, the visitors scored in the 28th minute through Atanda Shakibu and had a goal disallowed.
Then the Egyptians fought back, equalised and ended up as 2-1 winners. Enyimba not only lost the cup, it was the first time they would lose home and away, to the same team, in an international game.
The year 2008 belonged to Enyimba hitman, Stephen Worgu. With 13 goals, he was the CAF Champions League top scorer. Ezenwa Oturugo got five goals. Kalu Uche had four to his credit. Al Ahly stopped Enyimba in the semis. The first leg in Aba ended goalless. In Cairo, it was 1-0.
In 2015, the Egyptian stain continued. Smouha sacked Enyimba 2-0 in Alexandria. Zamalek came in 2016. In Aba, goalie Thomas Afelokhai whose heroics against Etoile Sahel in a penalty shoot – out in the second round gave his team 7-6 victory, conceded the lone goal that favoured the visitors. In Cairo, the hosts won again, by the same margin.
Pyramids took their guests to the Air Defence Stadium, Cairo in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League and gave Enyimba a 4-1 drubbing. It was a bad day for goalkeeper John Noble. In the Aba leg, the Egyptians got a 1-1 draw.
This season, the only reasonable result Enyimba earned from a CAF Confederation Cup group that included two Egyptian teams was against Mozambican Black Bulls. Against Al Masry, it was 2-0. Zamalek hammered them 3-1.
That loss of 2003 so pained Egyptians that they planned to hijack the trophy, forcing CAF to delay the Cup presentation ceremony. Referee Eddy Maillet had to stop the game briefly when home fans ran riot.
One of them was shot dead. A BBC reporter and five policemen were injured as the Nigerian contingent remained inside the main bowl of the Ismailia Stadium, five hours after the match.
I was part of the Nigerian contingent and will not forget that experience. Egyptian police armoured vehicles had to escort us, from the stadium to As Salaam Hotel. We hurriedly packed our belongings to begin a two hours midnight trip to Cairo Airport, accompanied by truck loads of fully armed security operatives.
Many Enyimba players did not see the cup until they arrived Nigeria. Their Cheer Leader, governor Orji Kalu of Abia State escaped with it to Lebanon, aided by his friend, Ronald Chagoury.
Unknown to Ismaili fans, Chagoury understood Arabic and listened attentively as they planned to seize the trophy before the presentation ceremony.
Kalu joined CAF president, Issa Hayatou, meandered his way to the airport where a private jet was waiting. He told Egyptian officials that he wanted to pick his pyjamas from the plane. Once inside, the pilot took off.
The hosts prepared for Enyimba. Capt. Sunny Arome, Flight Commander of the ADC airliner that flew the Aba Giants to Cairo, was diverted to Asyut military airport, on sighting his destination.
After touching down, passengers were restricted for three hours. When they eventually arrived Cairo, noisy As Salaam Hotel, was reserved for the players. Nigerian Embassy officials outsmarted the hosts, taking Enyimba elsewhere.
Ismaili lodged a protest alleging that one Nigerian, Paul Dodo, confirmed that Enyimba player, Yaro Yaro, was not eligible to feature in the game. CAF threw away their protest. Earlier, Nigeria had topped the Abuja 2003 All Africa Games medals table, relegating Egypt to the second position. Back home, the North Africans were fed false narratives that many of their athletes were not well treated.
And after that victory on Egyptian soil, Enyimba may yet defeat any team from Egypt at away. Clubs from that country, have continued to punish the Nigerians.
Century post
