Enyimba overcomes Etoile Filante in dramatic penalty shootout to secure CAF Confederation Cup group stage spot

Enyimba secured their place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after a tense 3-2 victory on penalties against Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante. The closely contested second-leg tie at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo ended in a goalless draw, just like the first leg in Bamako, forcing the match into a dramatic shootout.

Both teams struggled to break the deadlock over 180 minutes of play across the two legs.

Enyimba, Nigeria’s last remaining representative in continental competition, demonstrated resilience but lacked the cutting edge to secure a win during normal time.

Despite several promising attacking moves, neither side could find a breakthrough, and the match ultimately came down to the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.

Enyimba managed to convert three of their penalties, while Etoile Filante could only net two, sending the Nigerian side through to the next round.

The tension was palpable throughout the shootout, but Enyimba held their nerve to earn the crucial win, much to the delight of their supporters.

Head coach Yemi Olanrewaju, who has steered the People’s Elephant through a challenging qualification campaign, praised his team’s mental toughness in the post-match interviews.

“It wasn’t an easy game, but the boys showed character and determination.

This is just the beginning—we are aiming to go all the way in this tournament,” he said.

The victory ensures Enyimba remain the only Nigerian side left in continental competitions this season, following the exits of other teams in earlier rounds.

Their progression to the group stage bolsters hopes of a deep run in the tournament, with the team eyeing the prestigious CAF Confederation Cup title.

Should they triumph, they would become the first Nigerian club to win the competition.

Enyimba, one of Nigeria’s most successful football clubs, has a storied history in African football.

With two CAF Champions League titles already to their name, they are no strangers to continental success.

The team will now turn their focus to preparing for the group stage, where they will face stronger opposition in the quest to add another trophy to their collection.

For Etoile Filante, the defeat marks the end of their CAF Confederation Cup journey.

Despite putting up a strong fight in both legs, they were ultimately unable to overcome Enyimba’s resilience and will now turn their attention back to domestic competitions.

Enyimba’s performance in the shootout demonstrated their ability to handle pressure, and fans will be hopeful that this victory signals the start of a successful campaign in Africa’s second-tier club competition.

As the group stage approaches, all eyes will be on how the Nigerian giants fare in the next round.

With their eyes set on making history, Enyimba’s journey in the CAF Confederation Cup is far from over.