Enyimba football club has beaten Kano Pillars who are the champions, on the final day of the Nigeria league season to clinch a ticket for next year’s CAF Champions League.
Enyimba finished second on the league table with 64 points from 38 matches and will now feature in the 2015 Champions League along with Pillars.
This year, the two-time African champions were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Bamako of Mali.
Home team Enyimba took the game to Pillars from the onset with Emeka Nwanna ‘Ayaya’ and Nzube Anaezemba both coming close to giving ‘The People’s Elephant’ the lead.
Their all-action approach was finally rewarded in the 18th minute when Mfon Udoh darted into the Pillars goal area before he let fly a right-footed rocket past goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.
Udoh took his goals haul this season to a record-breaking 23, when in the 45th minute he helped on a loose ball home after a defensive mix-up between Afelokhai and defender Anthony Abawula.
But moments later, Gambo Mohammed pulled a goal back after he latched onto a through pass by Rabiu Ali.
Substitute Chimezie Amanfor made it 3-1 for Enyimba in the 73rd minute with a powerful header off a cross by Okonkwo Chinonso, who was then sent off two minutes after he picked up his second booking. [myad]
