Happy Easter
If redemption had a sound, it echoed through the Enyimba Stadium on Saturday evening as the People’s Elephant roared back to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kano Pillars.
Coming off a bruising and frankly embarrassing cup exit to Abakaliki FC, this wasn’t just another league fixture—it was a must-win, a statement game. And the boys responded—not with perfection though, but with grit, hunger, and just enough flair to get over the line.
From the blast of the whistle, Enyimba looked up for it. Joseph Atule, the ever-busy menace, was in the mood early on, darting past defenders and pulling strings. A decent effort from Solomon Ogberahwe forced a smart save from Abuchi in goal for the visitors, while Mujeeb Odefeso missed a golden one-on-one chance after a defensive mix-up in the Pillars’ box. It felt like something had to give.
And it did—Atule, calm and composed, delivered the opener in the 35th minute. A well-taken finish that reflected both his confidence and class. That goal settled the nerves, and moments later, Mujeeb was replaced by veteran forward Brown Ideye in a move that would prove pivotal.
Barely had the second half resumed when Ideye announced his presence. A loose ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he lashed a thunderous strike past Abuchi. A goal straight out of the archives—vintage Ideye. With a two-goal cushion, Enyimba fans began to breathe a little easier. But this is Enyimba. Nothing ever comes easy.
A penalty awarded to Pillars set hearts racing. Ani guessed right to save the spot-kick, but the rebound fell kindly to Akpesiri, who tucked it away to make it 2-1. Suddenly, the nerves were back.
Still, Enyimba had chances to bury the game. Ideye thought he had a second—after a sublime finish—but the flag was up for offside. A close call, maybe harsh. As the clock ticked down, the boys held firm. Ani made another key save, and the defense, shaky at times, did just enough to see out the win.
At full time, there was no wild celebration—just a collective sigh of relief. A win. A response. A lifeline.
And at the heart of it all was Brown Ideye. One goal, one disallowed, and a man-of-the-match display that reminded everyone why class, like wine, only gets better with age.
It wasn’t the prettiest. It wasn’t the cleanest. But it was three points, and right now, that’s all that matters.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
