Exclusive: Yemi Olanrewaju on Enyimba’s Loss to Al Masry: Nerves, Lessons, and the Path Forward

Enyimba’s 2-0 loss to Al Masry in a pivotal continental clash has raised questions about the team's approach and readiness for high-stakes encounters.

Head coach Yemi Olanrewaju, known for his disciplined and analytical style, didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts on what went wrong and how the team can improve moving forward.

In this exclusive with SportsBoom.com, Olanrewaju opens up about his immediate reaction to the loss, the tactical and mental hurdles his players faced, and his strategy for balancing the pressures of domestic and continental campaigns.

"We Let Ourselves Down": Olanrewaju's Post-Match Reaction

Reflecting on the game, Olanrewaju admitted to feeling immense frustration with his team’s start. “Immediately after the game, I was so mad. I got to the dressing room and was screaming. I think I've always stood by my players, but I felt let down by their first 10-15 minutes’ approach,” he revealed.

“They were a bit nervous, which wasn't good at that level. What are you scared of? I think that was what cost us the game. Tactically, Al Masry is a decent side. They defeated Zamalek last weekend. They are a good side, but we made them look average the way we approached them.

“But they are a very good side, honestly speaking. Tactically, we got it right, but we were a bit nervous, which cost us the game.”

Mental Struggles Overshadow Tactical Execution

For Olanrewaju, the loss highlighted the team’s mental frailty rather than tactical shortcomings. “What went wrong, I think, is more of a mental breakdown after conceding that first goal,” he explained.

“We pushed for an equaliser even though I felt that our transition was good. Build-up was good in the midfield. We kept the ball, moved them around, but we didn’t create as much as I would have wanted in the last third, which affected us badly.

“Yea, so I think it’s more of a mental issue than a tactical problem that we had against Al Masry.”

Failure in the Final Third

One area of concern for the coach was Enyimba’s lack of cutting edge in attack, something he felt was pivotal in the outcome of the match.

“I think we underperformed in our last third. We didn’t create as much as I would have wanted,” he said. “We kept the ball and kept passing around. In the last third, nothing was created. I think we only had three shots at goal, which wasn’t good at all.

“The two goals they scored—we gave them the goals. The first was a free-kick; we slept off. The second was losing the ball where we weren’t supposed to lose it.

“We underperformed in the last third, and that was our undoing.”

One Change, One Regret

When asked if he would have done anything differently, Olanrewaju pointed to a single personnel adjustment but maintained confidence in his overall strategy.

“Yeah, if I look back, what I would have changed tactically? Maybe one personnel—maybe change one player for another, just one,” he shared.

“You know, I don’t really have any regret about the way we started or how we set up. Our pre-match was good. We had information about how they were going to hurt us and what they could do to hurt us, you know.

“But unfortunately, we didn’t really deliver. Nervousness cost us the game. That’s the only thing I can say. It was more of anxiety than anything.”

Balancing Continental and Domestic Grind

Olanrewaju also reflected on the challenges of managing both domestic and international competitions, emphasizing the importance of focus and recovery.

“To balance the demand, the players know what is at stake, honestly speaking,” he said. “We know that while we are playing Continental, we cannot lose our sight on the domestic league.

“It’s important that we keep our heads up, and we balance both because the domestic league is very, very important. For me, it’s even much more important than the Continental. So we cannot lose sight of what is happening here in the league.

“We try and manage both, combine it together, give them rest where they are supposed to rest. Do a bit of recovery after every game, both in the league and Continental, and we try to balance both.”

The Way Forward for Enyimba

Despite the setback, Olanrewaju remains confident in his team’s ability to bounce back. His candid reflections on the game show a coach who is both passionate about his craft and committed to learning from mistakes.

For Enyimba, the road to redemption begins now, with Olanrewaju’s leadership crucial as the team looks to regain its momentum both domestically and on the continent. Fans will be watching closely, eager to see how their team responds in the coming fixtures.