Finally, we witnessed what can truly be called the first real Abia Derby. Not the usual friendly neighborhood kickabout between one ambitious side and another just showing up for duty, but a proper, full blooded derby that checked all the boxes — noise, colour, tension, drama, fanfare, and yes, even a little bit of crowds.
The Umuahia Township Stadium probably has not seen that much energy in years, and honestly, it may not again this season. From the pre match buzz to the final whistle, the atmosphere was electric.
And to our credit, the True Blues came through. Aba stood up. The turnout from Enyimba fans was massive, loud, passionate, and beautifully unapologetic. Our boys may have ditched our trademark blue for a black and yellow combo that looked more like a Wiz Khalifa throwback, but the spirit was unmistakably Enyimba.
The result? A draw that did not feel like a victory but did not sting like defeat either. Given our recent struggles, we will take it. It is another match without a loss, without conceding, and that is progress, even if just baby steps.
But the derby did not just give us entertainment. It taught us a few lessons, some hard to swallow, others worth holding on to.
First, Enyimba is not quite back yet. The two recent results, a two nil win over a troubled Kano Pillars and this draw in Umuahia, have brought a whiff of relief, but not dominance. We were second best for long stretches in both games, and the fearsome aura we once carried is still missing. The People’s Elephant still looks like it is trying to remember how to trumpet. We cannot afford to romanticize these results. They are mere foundations, not finished products. The real work still lies ahead.
That said, there is hope in the little things. For once, we saw fight. John Bassey hustled like a man possessed, Atule and Edidiong looked lively, and Ufere brought real flair to the middle. Salman and Nweke’s composure in midfield gave us some spine, while the defense, with Molukwu, Afolayan, Nworie, and Ogberahwe, showed grit against Abia Warriors’ tricky wingers.
These flashes of intent, these brief bursts of quality, are exactly what we have been missing. There is potential here; it just needs refining, consistency, and a little belief.
And let us be honest, Abia Warriors are no longer the small brothers of the derby. They have come of age. They played with confidence, swagger, and ambition. They had the better chances, and for large parts of the game, they looked like the side more likely to score. It is a wake up call for us. If we keep treading water while they build momentum, the balance of power in Abia might just start to tilt. The derby used to be ours by default; now, it is a battle.
So yes, we did not win, but we did not lose either. And more importantly, we learned. This draw might not have given us bragging rights, but it offered something just as valuable — perspective.
To get back to where we once stood, as Nigeria’s football powerhouse and Africa’s pride, we must build, adapt, and evolve. The Abia Derby reminded us of who we were, where we are, and what we still need to do to get back there.
It might be just another fixture on paper, but in truth, it was a mirror. And we must pay attention to what we saw.
EnyimbaEnyi 💙
