By Our Football Reporter
IT IS known as the “Cathedral of Nigerian Football,” but for Shooting Stars, the Enyimba International Stadium felt more like a gladiator’s pit yesterday afternoon.
In a clash that had more bite than a hungry croc, NPFL giants Enyimba proved exactly why their Aba fortress is the most feared destination in West Africa, grinding out a clinical 1-0 victory over rivals Shooting Stars (3SC).
From the moment the turnstiles opened in Aba, the atmosphere was electric.
The 16,000-capacity ground was a sea of blue, a wall of noise that seemed to rattle the visitors before a ball was even kicked.
The “People’s Elephant” didn’t just play with eleven men; they played with the weight of a city behind them.
The Ibadan-based Shooting Stars arrived with dreams of an upset, but they quickly found that the Aba turf has no mercy for visitors.
Despite some slick passing in the middle of the park, the Stars couldn’t find their range. Every time they looked likely to pull the trigger, the Enyimba backline—buoyed by the deafening roars of the home support—slammed the door shut.
The decisive moment came with a flash of brilliance that lit up the stadium.
A lightning-fast break saw Enyimba carve through the heart of the 3SC defense, slotting home the only goal of the game to send the home fans into a state of absolute delirium.
Shooting Stars threw the kitchen sink at it in the closing stages, but in the heat of the Aba sun, their finishing was colder than a London winter.
The final whistle was met with a roar that could likely be heard in Lagos, confirming Enyimba as the kings of their own castle.
For 3SC, it’s a long, quiet bus ride home. For Enyimba, it’s business as usual.
In the NPFL, many teams visit the International Stadium, but very few leave with anything other than a bruised ego and zero points.
FINAL SCORE: Enyimba 1-0 Shooting Stars
