NPFL 25: Olanrewaju Rues Missed Chances After Tornadoes Draw

NPFL 25: Olanrewaju Rues Missed Chances After Tornadoes Draw

Precious Oham

Yemi Olanrewaju of Enyimba FC has frowned at the performance of his team after their missed chances in the 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Wasteful Enyimba, on Wednesday, October 16th 2024, dropped the first points at home in the ongoing 2024/25 NPFL season.

The People's Elephants, who were still basking in the euphoria of grabbing a precious away point in Ibadan last Sunday against Shooting Stars, were held 1-1 at home by Niger Tornadoes of Minna.

Olanrewaju said in his post-match: "I feel bad because the first 20 minutes was hell; we didn't come to the party. The chances we were missing were criminal; I feel bad losing these points, honestly speaking.

"But I still have to cheer the boys up because the league is a marathon; there are still about 31 games left, so they have to cheer up; I don't want them to feel down, but I am not happy.

"Before they scored, we ought to have scored like three or more goals, and for us to win the championship, we have to do better; we have to improve on our goal scoring.

"Initially, I think we were having problems at the back, but we worked on it, and again, we have to improve our goal-scoring cause the chances we are missing are criminal."

On the goal conceded, he blamed the standing of the defenders, which led to the easy counter, saying the team must ensure it maintains its game plan. He explained that the substitution of Alade for Ufere was tactical, which paid off as he needed some pace on the left back of Tornadoes and again to keep the pressure on the centre backs with the presence of Jimoh and Ihemekwele.

The coach, who was visibly not pleased with the outcome of the game, insisted his team had to go and recover the points starting with the next game in Maiduguri.

While acknowledging it wouldn't be a difficult one considering the 3-day journey and the opposition, he said the team would go there to fight because the badge of Enyimba must be defended. 

Enyimba FC, after the unsavoury home draw, will straight away hit the road for a date with Elkanemi Warriors FC in Maiduguri on Sunday, October 20th, 2024.