The Oriental Derby could not have arrived at a better moment for Enyimba. After the disappointing loss to Katsina United in Ilorin and a growing cloud of frustration around the club, the People’s Elephant desperately needed a result that would steady nerves and restore belief.
Pressure sat heavily on interim coach Lawrence Ukaegbu, who had been tasked with calming the chaos and guiding the team through a turbulent stretch. Adding even more weight to the occasion was the presence of newly appointed head coach Deji Ayeni, who watched from the stands as he got his first live look at the squad he will soon command. The champions were in town, the stakes were enormous, and Enyimba had no choice but to respond.
And respond they did. In front of a charged Aba crowd, Enyimba delivered a spirited display to defeat Rangers International 2-1, securing their first win since early November and finally ending a frustrating four game run without victory. It was a performance full of grit, discipline and renewed purpose, giving Ukaegbu his first win as interim manager and offering Ayeni a promising preview of the team’s potential.
The opening half was fiercely contested, fitting for a derby that has produced decades of passion, noise and rivalry. Both sides tried to dictate the tempo, with Rangers pushing to assert their identity and Enyimba feeding off the energy of the home support. The breakthrough came in the forty second minute when Chidera Michael capitalised on sustained pressure to drive the ball home. Aba erupted. The goal gave Enyimba momentum, confidence and a deserved edge as they headed into the break.
The second half brought even more reward. Ukaegbu made a key change that shifted the rhythm of the match, introducing Stanley Dimgba from the bench. As he has done so many times, Dimgba delivered with cold precision. His goal doubled the lead and seemed to put the game out of Rangers reach, continuing his recent run of scoring important goals as a substitute.
Rangers did not fold. Deep into stoppage time, Kenechukwu Agu produced a spectacular free kick that halved the deficit and created late tension, but the clock was not their friend. Enyimba absorbed the final wave of pressure and held on for a deserved victory, reclaiming bragging rights in one of the fiercest rivalries in Nigerian football.
The win lifts Enyimba to eighth place on the table while Rangers drop to seventh, sitting only two points above the People’s Elephant. For Ukaegbu, it was the perfect sendoff before handing control of the team to Ayeni. For the incoming coach, it was a reassuring welcome. He saw the commitment, the talent and the fighting spirit that still lives within this squad.
With this morale boosting derby win, Enyimba can finally look forward with renewed hope. The team showed that even in transition, even under pressure, the badge still commands pride. The challenge now is to build on this performance and push higher as the season enters its second half. Ayeni arrives with work to do, but after what he witnessed on Sunday, he also arrives with proof that Enyimba can still rise when it matters most.
EnyimbaEnyi 💙
