BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

Enyimba Football Club of Aba yesterday, at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba came back from the brink of defeat to record a remarkable 3-1 win over Anges de Notse of Togo in a preliminary game of the CAF Champions League.

Playing inside a jam packed stadium, Enyimba came into the match brimming with confidence. The two-time African champions began well,  creating chances but failing to convert them to the dismay of their teeming fans. African Nations Championship striker, Ifeanyi Ede was the worst culprit as he frittered away  numerous chances. Abdulrahman Bashir was another profligate in front of goal.

Seeing that Enyimba were not taking their chances, the Togolese team launched a surprise attack in the 37th minute that resulted in the opening goal of the match scored by Cheik Aziz Camara. The goal silenced the capacity crowd.

Coach Zakary Baraje substituted misfiring Ifeanyi Ede with Sibi Gwar. Ede appeared to confirm the position of league monitors that those who represented Nigeria in CHAN were not the best from the league.

However, refusing to be outdone by their rivals, Enyimba supporters intensified their singing from the stands, hoping for an equaliser. The first half ended with the visitors leading 1-0.

Substitute Gwar leveled scores for Enyimba in the 80th minute. His finish was sublime and the fans who were already getting tensed up sprang back to life.

Three minutes later, Kingsley Sokari scored the second goal for Enyimba. Just when everybody thought the match was going to end 2-1, Gwar was on song again when he unleashed a terrific shot that beat goalkeeper Nouridine Assouna to give Enyimba a comfortable 3-1 win. The second leg comes up next weekend in Togo.