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Champions, Enyimba, will not throw in the towel in their quest to retain the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title this season.
The Peoples Elephant were held to a 1-1 draw at home by the leaders, Enugu Rangers, on Sunday, a result that set the cat among the pigeons as regards their title push.
The club’s centre half, Ike ThankGod, says the players have put the underwhelming result in Port Harcourt behind them and have instead decided to focus on future matches.
“We (Enyimba) will win the league title. I know there are teams like Wikki Tourists, Enugu Rangers, Rivers United and even Kano Pillars who are in the running (for the title), but I am confident.
“There is nothing stopping us from picking up wins away from home so there is no point in feeling bad because we dropped points at home against Rangers,” he told TotalSportNaija.
Enyimba’s attentions will now temporarily be switched to the Caf Champions League, where they next face Egyptian club, Zamalek, at the Petro Sport Stadium, Cairo on August 14.
The seven-time Nigerian champions will then face Mamelodi Sundowns at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on August 24.
Ike believes amassing maximum points is within the reach of his side even though four points could shepherd Enyimba through to the last four of Africa’s elite club competition.
“Zamalek beat us in Port Harcourt but it is very possible for us to beat them in Egypt.
“The key is winning against Zamalek in Egypt because I am very sure we will beat Sundowns in Nigeria,” he said.
A win for Enyimba in Egypt against Zamalek means just a point against Sundowns will be enough to see the Nigerian champions reach the semifinals.
If Enyimba and Zamalek play out a draw in Egypt, the Peoples Elephant will need to win by two clear goals against Sundowns in their last game to advance to the last four.
The final permutation, in the shape of an Enyimba loss in Egypt, means they would have been knocked out of the competition with one game to spare.
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