Enyimba Football Club Sunday needed a win in the final match of the 2018/19 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, to qualify for the Super 6 playoff which they could not claim against Katsina United,  Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report. 
The People’s Elephant however still qualified for the Nigeria playoff despite drawing the curtains on the first round with a 1-2 loss to Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Sunday evening.
Enyimba played the matchday 22 encounter with the knowledge that their playoff hopes would be truncated only in the event of MFM recording an unlikely win at Sunshine Stars, but the former enjoyed a topsy-turvy 4-2 loss to make Enyimba’s loss in Katsina a mere procession.
Usman Abd’Allah handed promising young left back, Johnson Umah, his debut while Olayinka Onoalapo returned from a lengthy layoff for his first appearance of the season.
The hosts were handed the chance for a flying start when Adeniyi Adewale pointed to the spot after Onoalapo was found guilty of ball handling, but Stanley Nwabali stood his good ground to stop Tasiu Lawal’s straight kick.
After few half chances flew at both ends, the breakthrough eventually came for the hosts in the 34th minute when Martins Usule got to the end of a swift attacking move to finish calmly into Nwabali’s near post.
Enyimba did create chances of their own. Reuben Bala ran across the face of goal to receive a through ball from Thomas Zenke, but was eventually stopped by a last ditch tackle from behind.
United doubled their lead and insured their topflight status with barely twenty minutes left as Dare Olatunji impeded an attacking move with an illegal challenge inside the box, and Lawal blasted into the roof from the spot, making amends for his earlier miss.
Chinedu Udechukwu halved the deficit for Enyimba late on, scoring against his former side with a simple tap following a beautiful run and pass from the impressive debutante Orok Gabriel. 
“Yes we lost 2-1 but looking at the team you can see it’s a team that are also bound for the super six. 
“And we can see they have a very good attitude in this match. You can see there’s a lot of coordination, there’s a lot of solidarity. 
“They already knew the importance of the game and I will love the team to continue with this kind of motivation for the next round.
“I’m happy with the performance. The game was played very well. We have little bits of mistakes here and there but they are all something not to get worried and can be rectified,” coach of the side, Usman Abd’allah said.