Enyimba of Aba have advanced into the semi-finals of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup after they thrashed Rwandan club Rayon Sports 5-1 in their second-leg quarter-final clash at the refurbished Aba Township Stadium on Sunday.
The Peoples Elephant as Enyimba are fondly called, progressed 5-1 on aggregate after playing 0-0 in the first-leg last weekend.
Stanley Dimgba, Ikouwem Utin, Sunday Adetunji, Joseph Osadiaye and Isiaka Oladuntoye were the scorers for the Nigerian representatives, while Bonfils Caleb got the sole goal for Rayon Sports.
Dimgba broke the deadlock in the 12th minute as he pounced on a defensive mixup by the Rayon Sports backline by expertly planting the ball into the back of the net.
Rayon Sports were back on level terms thanks to Caleb in the 25th minute.
Utin restored Enyimba’s lead in the 29th minute making it 2-1 as his left-footed strike took a slight deflection before ending inside the net.
In the 48th minute, Adetunji got on the score sheet to put Enyimba 3-1 ahead as he tapped into the net from close range off an assist from Dimgba.
Enyimba continued to dominate and were rewarded for their effort in the 60th minute to go 4-1 up through a well-taken free-kick from Osadiaye which took a touch off a Rayon Sports player and wrongfooted the visitor’s keeper.
And with 10 minutes left, Enyimba grabbed their fifth thanks to Oladuntoye who headed into the net after Rayon Sports keeper parried a free-kick into his path.
Sunshine Stars was the last Nigerian club side to get to the semifinal of a CAF competition in 2012 in the CAF Champions League but lost 3-4 on aggregate to Al Ahly of Egypt.
