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Enyimba F.C.

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Enyimba
Full nameEnyimba Football Club
Nickname(s)Peoples' Elephant, The Aba Warriors
Founded1976; 48 years ago (1976)
GroundEnyimba International Stadium
Aba, Abia, Nigeria
Capacity16,000[citation needed]
OwnerAbia State Government
ChairmanNwankwo Kanu
CoachYemi Daniel Olanrewaju
LeagueNigeria Premier Football League
2023–24Nigeria Premier Football League, 3rd of 20 [1]
Websitewww.enyimbafc.net
Current season

Enyimba Football Club, commonly known as Enyimba, is a Nigerian professional football club based in the city of Aba, Abia State which plays in the Nigerian Professional Football League. Their name means People's Elephant in Igbo language and is also the nickname used for the city of Aba.[2] Founded in 1976, the club rose to prominence in the 2000s and is considered the most successful Nigerian football club as they have won two African Champions League titles, nine Nigerian championships and four Federation Cups since 2001.[3] Their most recent league glory came in the 2022–23 season.[4]

History

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Early years

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The club was founded as a state-owned club in November 1976 by Jerry Amadi Enyeazu, who was the first Director for Sports in the newly established Imo State, a province in southeast Nigeria.[5] In August 1991, Imo State was divided further and Abia State was created from the part of Imo which included the city of Aba, Enyimba's hometown, so the new state government took over as owners of Enyimba.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Enyimba struggled to make a notable impact as the traditional powerhouses such as Enugu Rangers, Shooting Stars, Bendel Insurance and local rivals Iwuanyanwu Nationale dominated Nigerian football. Enyimba's rise to fame began in 1990 when the Professional League was inaugurated.

In their first season in the top division, Enyimba finished 13th out of 16 clubs, winning just five out of 30 games with a goal difference 25–36. In the following season, they won eight games but still finished 15th with 36 points, just one point short from escaping relegation behind Stationery Stores, and were relegated to second level for the 1992 season. Enyimba stayed in the second level for the next two seasons before winning promotion in 1993, finishing first with 29 wins out of 46 games, winning a record 96 points with a goal difference of 64–25, with most goals scored and fewest goals conceded in the 24-team league.

Back at the top level, their string of good results continued, and they finished the 1994 season third, behind BCC Lions and Shooting Stars, missing out on a spot in the 1995 CAF Cup on goal difference. After a mediocre 1995 season, they won fourth place in 1996, before a series of inconsistent results saw them narrowly escaping relegation on goal difference in 1997 and finishing seventh in the 1999 season.

Rise to prominence

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The People's Elephant experienced international football for the first time in August 2001, when they were invited to play Internazionale at San Siro in a charity friendly which marked the return of Ronaldo after a 21-month injury layoff and saw Enyimba thrashed 7–0 with four goals from Christian Vieri.[6]

The club went on to win their second successive league title in 2002, and then became the first Nigerian club to win the continent's premier international club competition in the 2003 CAF Champions League by beating Ismaily of Egypt 2–1 on aggregate, under coach Kadiri Ikhana.[7][8] This was also the first time since 1996 that a Nigerian club had reached the final of the competition. Several key players from Enyimba's 2003 continental success have since gone on to play for Nigeria (Vincent Enyeama, Obinna Nwaneri and Onyekachi Okonkwo) and Benin Republic National Team (Muri Ogunbiyi).[9]

Enyimba then successfully defended their title as they won their second consecutive African Champions League title in 2004, beating Tunisia's Étoile du Sahel in the finals.[9] After finishing runners-up in the national championship in 2004 (behind Dolphins), Enyimba won the Double in 2005, winning their fourth Nigerian championship and their first Nigerian Cup.[10]

2003–2008: awards

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In 2003, Enyimba won the best team in Africa award while coach Kadiri emerged the best coach. In 2004, the club retained the best coach award while the club's first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama won the Champions league player of the year.

These two Champions league victories in the hands of West African teams, plus the second CAF Super Cup against Accra Hearts of Oak finally brought Enyimba to the limelight of African football. The team signed a $300,000 uniform deal with Joma in 2008.[11]

2016 season

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The 2016 season was not so favorable for People's Elephants as end the season being ninth on the league with 50 points.[12]

2017 season

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Enyimba finished third in the league with 61 points. The third position saw Enyimba qualify to represent Nigeria at the CAF Confederations Cup the following season.[13]

Home ground

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Enyimba currently uses the Enyimba International Stadium located in the city of Aba in Abia State. The stadium was renovated in 2018.[14]

Honours

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Domestic

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Continental

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Current squad

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As of 12 February 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Nigeria NGA Nathaniel Asibe
2 DF Nigeria NGA Odinaka Obichere
5 DF Nigeria NGA Gabriel Innocent
6 FW Nigeria NGA Ekwutoziam Eze
7 MF Nigeria NGA Nzondiegwu Nonso
8 FW Nigeria NGA Chukwudi Nwaodu
9 FW Nigeria NGA Chukwuemeka Obioma
10 MF Nigeria NGA Akanni Elijah
13 FW Nigeria NGA Alade Balogun
14 FW Nigeria NGA Jeremy Olatunji
15 MF Nigeria NGA Nweke Kalu
16 DF Nigeria NGA Francis Odinaka
17 MF Nigeria NGA Daniel Daga
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Nigeria NGA Pascal Eze
19 FW Nigeria NGA Ismail Sarki
20 DF Nigeria NGA Asuquo Uwana
21 GK Nigeria NGA Emeka Onyekachi
22 MF Nigeria NGA Chinedu Ufere
23 FW Nigeria NGA Austin Onyemaechi
24 MF Nigeria NGA Fatai Abdullahi
25 DF Nigeria NGA Somiari Alalibo
26 DF Nigeria NGA Odita Okechukwu
29 DF Nigeria NGA Imo Obot
30 FW Nigeria NGA Ekene Awazie
31 FW Nigeria NGA Ifeanyi Ihemekwele
35 GK Nigeria NGA Henry Ani
38 FW Nigeria NGA Adiele Eriugo

Performance in CAF competitions

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2002 – second round
2003 – champion (Enyimba International F.C. season 2003)
2004 – champion
2005 – group stage (Top 8)
2006 – group stage (Top 8)
2008 – semi-finals
2011 – semi-finals
2014 – first round
2015 – first round
2016 – group stage (Top 8)
2020 – first round
2010 – second round of 16
2018 – semi-finals
2020 – quarter-finals
2021 – quarter-finals

Coaching history

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Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Enyimba win record ninth NIgeria Premier League". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Finidi takes over reins at Aba giants, Enyimba". Vanguard News. 4 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Enyimba set for Raja with eyes firmly on cup prize". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Enyimba win record ninth NIgeria Premier League". cafonline.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ "History". EnyimbaFC.net - The Official Website. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Ronaldo returns as Inter thrash Enyimba". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 August 2001. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Nigeria: How We Won,Kadiri Ikhana". allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2003. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Football Today football ⋉ azscore.ng". azscore.ng. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Enyimba". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  10. ^ Eribake, Akintayo (16 July 2011). "CAF Champions League: Ex-Enyimba vows to 'kill' Enyimba". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  11. ^ Aikhoje, Ojeikere (12 April 2013). "NPFL clubs go stylish". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  12. ^ Nwachukwu, John Owen (23 October 2016). "Coaching Enyimba most stressful experience of my 15 years career – Aigbogun". Daily Post Nigeria. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Caf Confederation Cup: Akwa United get Al Hilal, USM Alger face Plateau United, Enyimba meet Bidvest Wits, Djoliba vs MFM | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Enyimba return to Aba Stadium after completed renovations | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  15. ^ a b "More new faces for Nigeria". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 April 2002. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Urukalo 'loses' Enyimba job". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 August 2004. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  17. ^ Copnall, James (12 July 2004). "Enyimba full of confidence". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Enyimba appoint Cooreman". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 October 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  19. ^ Okpara, Christian (12 November 2008). "Why Cooreman left Enyimba, by aide". The Guardian. Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  20. ^ "Enyimba coach Okey Emordi prepared for Wydad Casablanca test". Kick Off. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Enyimba make Abdu Maikaba their new coach". Kick Off. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Flying Eagles coach Aigbogun resigns from Enyimba". 23 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Enyimba sacks Usman Abd'Allah as technical adviser". 7 January 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  24. ^ Saliu, Mohammed (15 January 2020). "Enyimba's Chief Felix Anyansi reveals plans to make Fatai Osho permanent head coach". Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
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