Bayelsa United and Enyimba FC locked horns in a clash that tested nerves, patience, and quality. The People’s Elephant arrived with confidence, determined to extend their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 NPFL season.
From the opening whistle, Enyimba stamped their authority, winning early free kicks and pressing Bayelsa deep into their half. Chances fell to Mohammed and Bassey, but the finishing touch was missing. By halftime, it remained goalless, though Enyimba looked the sharper of the two sides.
Bayelsa fans thought they had their breakthrough just after the hour mark when Enyimba’s goalkeeper was bundled into the net with the ball. The referee ruled it a foul, sparking heated debates in the stands. That proved to be Bayelsa’s last real chance at glory.
Enyimba finally found their breakthrough in the 76th minute. Substitute Chidera pounced on a loose ball in the box and finished calmly past the keeper to give the visitors a deserved lead. The goal drained Bayelsa’s confidence and shifted momentum firmly to the Elephants.
With five minutes left, captain-for-the-day Nweke rose to the occasion. Having earlier been booked, he redeemed himself by slotting in the second goal to seal the win. His strike silenced the home crowd and underlined Enyimba’s dominance.
Late substitutions saw Nweke and Joseph make way for fresh legs, as coach Stanley Eguma’s men closed out the match with calm professionalism.
Enyimba’s Composure, patience and ball control eventually wore Bayelsa down. Bayelsa themselves were the definition of wastefulness. Despite flashes of fight, conviction in attack was lacking. For Enyimba, Chidera’s impact off the bench and Nweke’s leadership proved decisive.
This victory keeps Enyimba’s unbeaten run intact and strengthens their status as early title contenders. Bayelsa United, meanwhile, must sharpen their attack if they are to climb the table.
For the People’s Elephant, this was more than three points. Having dropped points at home last week, we needed to respond. In a league where small margins define champions, Enyimba know such results will be necessary to land at the Season’s expectations.
Enyimba showed real composure by keeping their focus after Bayelsa’s disallowed goal—it could easily have swung momentum the other way. Chidera’s impact off the bench highlights how important squad depth is in a long season, and Nweke’s late strike felt like the perfect captain’s response after his earlier booking.