Nigerian players Emmanuel Ayaosi, Lucky Ezeh, and Yahaya Danjuma celebrated a major career achievement after helping MFK Karviná secure a dramatic 3-1 victory over FK Jablonec in the MOL Cup final on Thursday night.
The trio played different roles during the competition as Karviná completed a strong comeback performance at the Malsovická Arena to lift one of the biggest trophies in the club’s recent history.
Emmanuel Ayaosi and Lucky Ezeh Play Key Roles in MOL Cup Triumph
While none of the Nigerian stars got on the scoresheet in the final, their contributions throughout the campaign proved important in Karviná’s successful cup run.
Emmanuel Ayaosi started the final and delivered another energetic display before he was forced off with an injury in the 74th minute.
The Nigerian winger had earlier scored once during Karviná’s journey to the final and remained one of the team’s reliable attacking options throughout the competition.
Lucky Ezeh, who entered the game late in the second half, also finished the tournament with an impressive record.
The striker scored six goals in six MOL Cup appearances and played a vital role in pushing Karviná toward the title.
Yahaya Danjuma was named among the substitutes for the final but did not feature during the contest.
Despite that, the young Nigerian midfielder was still part of the squad that secured the historic success for the Czech club.
Nigeria’s Nelson Okeke was also involved in the final, appearing for FK Jablonec after replacing Filip Novák in the 73rd minute.
Karviná Complete Brilliant Comeback After Early Jablonec Lead
Jablonec made the brighter start to the final and took the lead in the 17th minute through Lamin Jawo, putting pressure on Karviná early in the contest.
However, Karviná responded strongly before halftime when Ousmane Conde scored in the 44th minute to bring the visitors level.
The momentum quickly shifted after the restart as Kahuan Vinicius completed the turnaround only three minutes into the second half.
Jablonec’s problems increased further in the 57th minute when Ebrima Singhateh received a red card, leaving the home side with ten men.
Karviná stayed in control for the remainder of the match and sealed the victory deep into stoppage time when Vinicius grabbed his second goal of the night in the 91st minute.
The cup victory now gives Karviná extra confidence ahead of their Czech 1. Liga Qualification Playoff clash against SK Sigma Olomouc.