Happy New Year.
If you are reading this, congratulations are in order. We made it to 2026. May the year ahead bring better days, clarity, and good tidings across every facet of your life.
The new year always comes with resolutions. For individuals, it is about fresh starts and personal growth. For organizations, resolutions mean something else entirely. They are meant to set direction, restore standards, and align everyone toward a common purpose.
For Enyimba FC, the start of 2026 presents exactly that kind of opportunity.
2025 was frustrating and underwhelming. We ended last season meekly in sixth place and closed the first stanza of this one in eighth. For a club of our stature, that reality alone should prompt serious reflection. From here, the table only allows movement upward, but that climb will not happen on its own. A genuine rise must begin at management level. Without administrative clarity and competence, any progress on the pitch will remain fragile.
Since the post Eguma era began, there has been a noticeable improvement in our attacking play. The fluidity in the final third is no coincidence. We have now scored in six consecutive matches, and for the first time in a while, our forward play feels intentional rather than hopeful. I have rewatched the Chidera and Edidiong combination for the third goal against Shooting Stars more times than I care to admit. It is a simple move, but it speaks volumes. Timing. Understanding. Trust.
With ten goals between them in the first half of the season, the signs are encouraging. If that partnership continues to grow, the second half of the campaign could be productive for both players and the team.
Still, nothing has been won. We are only halfway through the season, and optimism must be balanced with realism. One pressing issue remains unresolved. The formal appointment of Coach Deji Ayeni needs to be concluded, and quickly. His technical influence is already evident, but clarity matters. A coach needs authority, not limbo.
In the meantime, Lawrence Ukaegbu deserves credit. He has held the fort with composure and dignity. His presence on the touchline and his pre and post match engagements have been steady, confident, and reassuring during a period of uncertainty.
Next up is a trip to Ibadan to face Shooting Stars. The reverse fixture comes barely a week after their heavy defeat in Aba, which means motivation on their end will be high. It is an immediate chance for them to respond and an equally important test for us to prove that our resurgence is not limited to home comforts.
We have not lost in Ibadan in our last three visits, including a memorable late winner in 2024. There is no reason not to believe again.
A new year. A new opportunity. But belief alone will not be enough. Focus, structure, and discipline must follow.
Bring it on.
Enyimba Enyi.
