Royal Elite FC Fall To Croatia In 2-0 Friendly Defeat At FAANS

Royal Elite Football Club hosted Team Croatia at FAANS, Calabar, on 13 March 2025, with kick-off at 4:00pm in a friendly 11-a-side encounter. The match concluded with a 2-0 victory for the visitors after 90 minutes plus injury time, witnessed by a modest crowd of 88 spectators and overseen by referee Ballack.

Royal Elite lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, deploying Emmanuel Asuquo in goal. The defensive line featured George Etim at right back, Samuel Aniedi and Emmanuel Ini as central defenders, and Samuel Umanah on the left flank. In midfield, Christian Ekong and Effiom formed a double pivot tasked with shielding the defence and linking play. John Ekpenyong operated just ahead as the attacking midfielder, supporting a front three comprising Godwin Sunday on the right wing, Saviour leading the line as striker, and Osang Hopewell on the left forward position. The substitutes named were Kenneth Ngwu, Emediong Samuel, and Goodnews Bassey.

The match began with Croatia asserting early pressure, and their efforts bore fruit in the 20th minute when they opened the scoring with a close-range tap-in using the left foot. Royal Elite’s defence was caught out as the visitors capitalised on a swift attacking move. As the first half progressed, Croatia doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute through a close-range header, further unsettling the home side. The goal came from a well-delivered cross that Royal Elite’s defenders failed to clear effectively.

At half-time, the score stood at 2-0 to Croatia, reflecting their dominance in key moments despite Royal Elite’s attempts to regain control. The second half saw immediate tactical changes from Royal Elite, with Kenneth Ngwu replacing Saviour at the restart in the 46th minute to inject fresh impetus into the attack. However, the home side struggled to break down Croatia’s organised defence.

Further adjustments followed as Emediong Samuel came on for Osang Hopewell in the 52nd minute, another tactical substitution aimed at revitalising the left forward position. Despite these changes, Royal Elite found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. The midfield duo of Christian Ekong and Effiom, later substituted due to injury for Goodnews Bassey in the 68th minute, worked hard but were unable to influence the scoreboard.

Throughout the match, Royal Elite’s back four and goalkeeper Emmanuel Asuquo faced sustained pressure but showed resilience in limiting further damage. The visitors’ clinical finishing in the first half proved decisive, and despite the home team’s efforts and tactical reshuffles, they were unable to mount a comeback.

Referee Ballack managed the game with a steady hand, maintaining control and allowing the match to flow, contributing to a fair contest. The friendly encounter provided Royal Elite with valuable experience against a strong Croatian side, highlighting areas for improvement ahead of future fixtures.