It’s never easy to sit down and write after that disappointing loss to newly promoted Kun Khalifat on Sunday in Owerri. Many of us were confident going into this fixture — after all, Khalifat had managed just one win all season, drawing two and losing four, even at their adopted home ground in Aba.
Coming off a frustrating draw against our neighbors Rivers United, we expected the boys to respond with fire and determination. But, as football often reminds us — the game always has its own plan for the People’s Elephant.
Enyimba began the game cautiously, soaking up early pressure from the hosts. Goalkeeper Kelvin Ogunga had to react quickly within the opening two minutes, clearing under pressure and showing early signs of nerves at the back.
Khalifat’s approach was clear — relentless attacking waves designed to force errors — and for long stretches, that plan worked. We didn’t register a real opportunity until the 15th minute, when Kalu Nweke’s precise free kick found Kingsley, whose header was inches away from goal.
Our biggest chance came in the 32nd minute when Abiodun broke free one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to see his shot rebound off the post. That miss, in hindsight, was the game’s turning point; our biggest undoing of the afternoon.
Just before halftime, Enyimba’s momentum was halted as midfielder Ndedi received a second yellow card and was sent off. Playing the entire second half with ten men, Coach Stanley Eguma made a necessary adjustment — bringing on Ufere Chinedu for Kingsley Maduforo to reinforce the midfield and maintain structure.
The team reorganized well, showing courage and discipline despite the numerical disadvantage.
In the 67th minute, Khalifat’s Nwokorie Ebuka curled a stunning free kick past Ogunga — the same player who had scored a near-identical goal against Enyimba during the Tico-Select Preseason Tournament in Aba. Lightning struck twice, and Enyimba’s defensive wall could do nothing to stop the beauty of that strike.
In stoppage time, a slip by Ogunga nearly gifted Khalifat a second goal, but Afolayan Peters came to the rescue with two heroic, point-blank saves that kept the scoreline at 1–0. His determination was the perfect image of what it means to wear the Enyimba shirt — courage, pride, and never giving up.
In his post-match comments, Coach Nduka Ndubusi, who deputized for our bereaved head coach Stanley Eguma, said:
“We felt bad about the unbeaten run coming to an end. You know it’s a derby, and the home team were always going to come out to play considering their position on the log. This wasn’t what we expected from the lads, but in football, these things happen.”
He also praised Khalifat’s match-winner:
“Ebuka will go far in football with that skill. His free kick gave them the goal today, and the red card shifted the game even though we can’t question the referee. We’ll gather ourselves and focus on the next match against Warri Wolves in Aba.”
After the defeat, we slip to third place on the league table, now six points behind leaders Nasarawa United. The race is getting tighter and the margin for error slimmer. Every point now counts as we push toward the top once again.
Even with ten players, the team showed heart, unity, and resilience. It wasn’t our day, but the belief remains unbroken. The People’s Elephant will rise again — stronger, sharper, and ready for the next battle.
This loss stings, but it fuels our fire. The road to glory is never smooth — and this is just another chapter in our story. Let’s rally behind the boys as we prepare to face Warri Wolves in Aba.
Keep the faith, Elephants. We charge on!.
