Enyimba beat Wolves to Fed Cup title •Angels maul Amazons 3-0 in final

Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe, was the villain on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, as his penalty miss handed Enyimba International their third Federation Cup title, after full time ended 2-2.

In the women’s final played earlier, Rivers Angel hammered Nassarawa Amazons 3-0 to claim their fourth title.

The People’s Elephant had to battle back twice from behind in regulation time to record their third triumph in Nigeria’s oldest football competition, which was in its 68th edition.

Both sides were cautious but the first chance of the game fell to coach Salisu Yusuf’s side in the 8th minute when Ifeanyi Ede back heeled a pass to Ayo Saka inside the six-yard box but the forward’s shot was saved by Wolves’ goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah.

Osadiaye Jospeh  shot wide inside the box after a brilliant long ball from ex-Flying Eagles midfielder, Kola Anubi, in the 15th minute but Enyimba replied immediately with Sibi Gwar shooting just wide on the edge of the box.

However, Wolves broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Egwuekwe headed a corner-kick down for Kundi to cooly slot home.

Enyimba’s vociferous fans had something to cheer about as their side grabbed the equaliser in the 60th minute after Odah’s parried effort fell onto the impressive Esieme’s path inside the box. The defender controlled first, before releasing a pile driver into the net.

Enyimba picked up the momentum and substitute Chimezie Amantor should have put the two-time African champions ahead two minutes later, but he managed to send his header, off a corner-kick, wide with Odah clearly beaten.

The Aba side found themselves on the backfoot once more in the 78th minute when Joseph put Wolves ahead with a perfect finish.

But the lead lasted only two minutes before the hardworking Uwadiegwu Ugwu blasted a free-kick past Wolves’ wall and the badly positioned Odah to make score 2-2.

Indeed, Enyimba should have wrapped up the game in stoppage time when Ugwu fed Amantor a through ball, but the substitute hesitated before his shot was blocked by Wolves defenders.

The game went straight into penalties and only Super Eagles centre-back Egwuekwe, who took his side’s third kick, failed to convert. But substitute Saviour Fidelis held his nerves to convert the last kick of the game to seal Enyimba’s third title and send fans of the People’s Elephant into rapturous celebrations.

Wolves coach Ogbeide said there were no regrets.

“It was a matter of hard luck but it was a good game. As soon as it went into penalty shootout it just became anybody’s game,” he said.