The gloom that trailed Enyimba’s outings in October finally gave way to the glow we crave in November, as the People’s Elephant began the new month with a 2–0 victory over Kano Pillars to return to winning ways after a dreadful run of three straight losses.
The victory warmed even more hearts, as the goals came from strikers John Bassey and Edidiong Ezekiel, who were signed to deliver the goods in the final third but had struggled for goals since starting as the preferred front pair this season.
For Bassey, the focal point of our attacking play, the pressure of a goalless streak had become a heavy burden. For any striker, confidence is oxygen. To finally break his duck brought immense relief. The goal should restore self-belief, steady his decision-making, and spark better performances in the games ahead. His strike partner Edidiong doubled our lead and his tally for the season. Together, the pair turned anxiety into momentum, a shift that could ignite a much-needed scoring run for the team.
Next stop, the Abia Derby.
A short trip to Umuahia awaits, where league leaders Abia Warriors have built an intimidating home fortress with five games, five wins, and no goals conceded. The derby enters its 13th season in the NPFL, with Sunday’s clash marking the 20th meeting since Warriors gained promotion to the top flight in 2014.
The Umuahia side were once tipped for relegation after just one season, but they have defied every prediction. They not only survived but thrived, playing some of the most exhilarating football, scoring freely, and famously taking four points off Enyimba in their debut campaign. Few fans will forget that shock win in Aba and the breathtaking 3–3 draw in Umuahia.
Credit must go to them for preserving their top-flight status and for their transformation into one of the league’s most consistent sides. From a modest team to top-three finishers, they have earned their respect the hard way.
This fixture offers a mirror for both clubs, a chance to measure progress or the lack of it since their current managements were constituted in 2023. The contrast could not be clearer.
Abia Warriors have moved forward, reaching their first ever Federation Cup final in 2024 and finishing third in the league to claim a continental ticket in 2025, their first time finishing above Enyimba. This season, their early run proves that achievement was no fluke but a continuation of steady, intelligent growth.
Enyimba, on the other hand, have moved in the opposite direction, champions in 2023, third in 2024, and sixth in 2025. If that is not a contrast in fortunes, what is?
The Umuahia outfit seem to have the better management structure, a sharper technical setup, and a clearer recruitment policy. Their replacement of Anthony Ijoma and Adejo Ojonugba with 2023 NPFL top scorer Emeka Obioma to partner Sunday Megwo shows foresight and ambition. The two have already combined for six goals this season, proving the system works.
For Enyimba, Sunday’s derby is more than just a league fixture. It is the second and final lap of the two match ultimatum handed to Coach Stanley Eguma and his crew. The faint glimmer of hope lies in our superior head to head record with four wins and three draws in nine visits to Umuahia, but in derbies of this magnitude, form and history rarely matter.
The stakes are high. The pride is higher. The points are up for grabs.
