Hamada's Brace Hands Enyimba Defeat in CAF Confederation Cup Opener

Enyimba International’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign began on a sour note as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Al Masry in Egypt on Wednesday evening. The Nigerian side entered the match at the Suez Stadium with high hopes, but they were outplayed by the Egyptians, who dominated the game from start to finish. Despite their confidence going into the fixture, Enyimba struggled to match Al Masry's intensity and control throughout the 90 minutes.

The match got off to a fast start as Al Masry took the lead in the 5th minute through Mahmoud Hamada. The early goal set the tone for the game, with the Egyptians maintaining possession and dictating play for the majority of the match. Enyimba, despite their best efforts, failed to create significant chances and could not break down Al Masry's solid defensive structure.

As the game progressed, Enyimba found themselves increasingly under pressure, unable to get into a rhythm. Al Masry continued to press forward and, just before the final whistle, Hamada secured his brace, scoring again to seal the 2-0 victory for the home side. The second goal ensured that Enyimba's hopes of a comeback were dashed, leaving them with no points from their opening match.

Enyimba's performance in the match raised concerns over their ability to compete at the continental level, as they struggled against a well-organized and more assertive Al Masry side. The result highlighted the need for improvements in both attack and defense as they continue their journey in the competition.

Looking ahead, Enyimba will need to regroup and refocus before their next fixture in the CAF Confederation Cup. The team must address the issues that were exposed during the match and work on improving their overall performance to stay competitive in the group stage.