Stanley Dimgba netted a hattrick as Enyimba bounced back from a run of five games without a win to beat Algerian side Paradou AC 4-1 in their Total CAF Confederation Cup (TotalCAFCC) group stage game at the Enyimba International Stadium on Sunday.
Dimgba started and ended the scoring for Enyimba with headers but had in between made the game safe with a brace in the first half of the game while assisting Victor Mbaoma for 2-0 in the 35th minute.
Enyimba lost the reverse fixture 0-1 to the Algerians in Blida a fortnight ago and followed it with a 0-4 loss to Plateau United which culminated in the sack of head coach Usman Abd’Allah.
New coach Fatai Osho started with a change of formation to a 4-1-2-3 set up, a departure from the bland 424 that cost his predecessor his job.
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After a brilliant opening to the game, Dimgba headed home his first of the day in the 15th minute when he was left unmarked while attacking Reuben Bala’s right wing corner kick.
Enyimba goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali kept his side in the game with two superb saves and his side duly capitalised with ten minutes left in the first half.
First, Dimgba’s cross was powered home by a towering header by Mbaoma before the winger rounded off a flowing team move a minute later, slotting home Cyril Olisema’s through pass.
Enyimba’s Elephants showed signs of early form of tiredness in the game with midfielder Dayo Ojo and left back Daniel Darkwah succumbing to injuries.
Nwabali once again kept his side in the game in the second half with series of point blank saves but Dimgba made the game safe fourteen minutes from time, heading home substitute Stanley Okorom’s corner.
The visitors however got a consolation goal one minute from time through Abdelkahar Kadri who scored from close range after some slack defending by the hosts.
Sunday’s win took Enyimba back to second spot on the group D table, two ahead of Paradou and one behind Hassania Agadir, pending the Moroccans night game against San Pedro.
