In football, sometimes a point feels like a victory. Other times, it feels like postponing the inevitable. Sunday’s goalless draw in Umuahia against Abia Warriors offered a bit of both for Enyimba.
For Coach Stanley Eguma, though, it might have been much more, perhaps the game that saved his job, at least for now.
Remember, this was match two of the infamous two-match ultimatum handed down after that horrible run of three straight defeats. One loss, and the axe was ready. A win last week, a draw this week, and suddenly the noose around the coach’s neck feels a little looser. Good news, right? Maybe not.
Because the questions that led to the ultimatum in the first place still remain unanswered.
Yet, to be fair, credit must go where it is due. Eguma’s side showed a kind of balance and grit that had been missing for weeks. After the match, he said:
“I am proud of how my team maintained their focus throughout the match. They showed resilience and tactical awareness, which are crucial in a game like this.”
It was not the prettiest football to watch, far from it, but it was controlled. The kind of game where the objective was not to impress, but to survive.
Eguma added,
“In a derby, emotions run high, but my players kept their composure and avoided unnecessary mistakes.”
That in itself is progress. For once, Enyimba did not unravel under pressure. They were compact, disciplined, and organized even as Abia Warriors pressed and probed for weaknesses.
Still, the coach found a silver lining in the stalemate.
“A goalless draw is not a bad result when you consider the strength of the opposition.”
Maybe he is right. Abia Warriors have been a tough side at home, unbeaten in Umuahia this season and sitting on top of the league. To hold them scoreless in their own backyard is an achievement worth noting. But for a club like Enyimba, one that measures success by trophies, clean sheets alone cannot be the story.
Eguma also acknowledged the weight of the rivalry, saying,
“These matches are about more than just points; they’re about pride and tradition.”
He is not wrong there either. The Oriental Derby has always been emotional, unpredictable, and fierce. It is the kind of game that shapes confidence and defines seasons. And in that sense, Enyimba did walk away with something valuable, stability, maybe even renewed belief.
To his credit, the coach sounded optimistic about what lies ahead.
“With continued hard work, I believe we will find the breakthrough in future encounters and keep our competitive spirit alive.”
Hopeful words, yes. But hope alone cannot mend the cracks that have started to show. Enyimba remain a club searching for its old rhythm, trying to marry its history with a new identity under Eguma. One clean sheet and one win are not enough to erase weeks of chaos.
The ultimatum might have been lifted, but the microscope remains firmly in place.
So, while some will celebrate this draw as progress, I will not. Not yet. Because progress for Enyimba is not in surviving. It is in dominating.
And until that returns, we will keep watching closely.
EnyimbaEnyi 💙
