“Enyimba FC return to losing ways.” That was how a radio presenter opened a sports programme yesterday. The statement is factual, yet brutal. The People’s Elephant opened the weekend round of matches on Friday in Katsina, a ground that has not yielded three points in several decades. This time was no different. We were not even given time to settle before going behind, after an inexplicable slip by goalkeeper Dare Dede from a routine back pass. Our woes were compounded before the quarter-hour mark, when a shot from 30 yards beat him again to make it 2-0.
The second half was an end-to-end affair. Twice Enyimba pulled a goal back, and twice Katsina United restored their two-goal cushion, crushing any swing of momentum before it could earn us a share of the spoils in a 4-2 goalfest. For the second consecutive visit, we scored twice in Katsina but left without a point. Our only point there in the last decade came in a 1-1 draw in 2019, through former Chanji boy Martins Usule, who made his league debut for Enyimba against his old side and opened his account there too.
On Friday, Coach Emmanuel Deutsch made two changes to the starting eleven from the last two matches. Last season’s top scorer, Chidera Michael, replaced captain Stanley Dimgba in attack, while Elvis Iwuorie came in for Chibueze Damian in defence. Richard Ezinna was given the honour of leading the team out as captain onto a pitch he knows well, the ground he called home last season. It was a symbolic gesture to boost his morale. He didn’t add to his recent run of goals, but he did provide an assist, flicking on a free-kick for Charles Egbe to head home and make it 3-2.
Chidera had earlier started the fightback, converting a cross from Obichere on the right. It was heartwarming to see him make his first start of the season, having emerged as one of the few bright sparks of our poor 2025/26 campaign. His 11 league goals kept us away from the brink for most of that difficult season. It will be interesting to see how he combines with a fit-again Ifeanyi Ihemekwele in attack, a pairing with a combined 22 goals in Enyimba colours.
The early setback distorted whatever plan the team had for the match. It was like a boxer who has rehearsed wearing his opponent down in search of an opening for the knockout punch, only to take a blow to the face in the first minute and watch all his preparation fly out of the window. The opening minutes in enemy territory are meant for containment and gradually growing into the game. Going two down inside 15 minutes leaves a visiting team with a mountain to climb, and despite our best efforts, we never recovered.
We take the positives from Katsina and refocus on the next match, against Warri Wolves in Aba. With a longer recovery period and the comfort of home, Enyimba can return to winning ways. Last season, Wolves beat us in Aba and completed the double in Ozoro, so this is a grudge match and a chance to reset the head-to-head between the Elephants and the Wolves. Deutsch and his boys must build on the new winning momentum at home.
By the end of today’s fixtures, which conclude matchday 8, the table will give a true reflection of our campaign. The three-match unbeaten run that offered a glimmer of hope will pale into insignificance, because five defeats this season have become a shackle around our ankle, holding back our climb up the table. The only way to shake it off is to keep winning at home and, more importantly, to win AWAY, cancelling the deficit that is stopping the Elephant from trampling its way up the log.
