The new 2025/26 NPFL season will give Barau FC a first taste of top-tier league football. What a way to start the journey than against the most successful club in the country and 9-time league champions – ENYIMBA FC.
The clash between a debuting club and a big club is a fascinating dynamic in football. A test of both ambition and experience, with potential rewards and risks for both.
Here is a decade-long review of Enyimba FC against debutant clubs.
2015/16:
ENYIMBA FC – IKORODU UNITED
A late Leonard Ugochukwu header separated the champions from the new boys in Aba. The reverse fixture in Lagos recorded a 5- goal thriller that saw united edge it 3-2.
MFM FC – ENYIMBA FC
Enyimba traded tackles with another Lagos based side and top-flight newcomer – Mountain on Fire Ministry FC in the same season, with the home and away ties ending in goalless draws. Results that didn’t truly reflect the exhilarating passage of play and all-out attacking display.
2016/17
ENYIMBA FC – REMO STARS
Remo Stars came calling at Aba on matchday 19 to wrap up the first half of the season,and hosted Enyimba on matchday 20 to commence proceedings for the second half of the season. The People’s Elephant beat them 1-0 in both encounters to complete a double over them in their debut season in the NPFL. A goal from Stephen Chukwude at home, and Leonard Ugochukwu’s strike at away made the difference.
2017/18
ENYIMBA FC – GO ROUND FC
Go Round made the short trip to Aba in matchday 13 of their debut season in the elite league. However, two second half goals by Joseph Osadiaye and Abdulrahman Bashir broke the stiff resistance of the Omoku side, with a young Stanley Nwabali between the sticks for the visitors.
The abrupt end to the season denied them an opportunity to make amends on their turf in the reverse fixture.
2018/19
An abridged league format with two groups in the regular season saw the season’s debutants – KADA CITY grouped away from Enyimba. Hence, no match up in a season the Aba giants went on to win the league title via the championship playoff finals.
2019/20
DAKKADA – ENYIMBA FC
Just when a frosty rivalry was deepening between Enyimba and Akwa United in the top flight,their sister club joined the fray and took no time to inflict a bitter defeat on us in Uyo and ran away with it. The manner of the defeat did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. A tight encounter that finally came alive in the last 15 minutes of the match, with a goal from Utibe Archibong. Enyimba deservedly hit back 10 minutes later via a Victor Mbaoma goal. A strike that seemed good for a share of the spoils. However,any hope of a draw was dashed when Utibe scored again, at the death to complete a brace and ensure maximum points for the host. The soothing balm of exerting revenge in Aba faded after the official decision to suspend the league schedule after matchday 25 fixtures and consequent abandonment due to the effects of COVID 19 pandemic and it’s attendant lockdown.
However the fire lit by the one-off encounter burned for the next two seasons, as Enyimba and Dakkada did a double over eachother in 2020/21 and 2021/22 respectively.
2022/23
Another Debutant – DOMA UNITED did not get the chance to test the power of Enyimba in their title-winning campaign, as they were placed in different groups of the season’s abridged league.
2023/24
ENYIMBA FC – SPORTING LAGOS
A third Lagos-based side to take a shot at the first-tier of the football league pyramid. Lost 2-0 in their visit to Aba. Goals from Eze Ekwutoziam – a penalty, and Elijah Akanni – late on, rendered Sporting goalkeeper’s Nathaniel Asibe’s best efforts academic.
But Sporting served a cold revenge in Lagos, edging Enyimba FC in a 2-1 win in the penultimate game of the season, despite Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo’s penalty kick save to deny Sporting’s Junior Lokosa early on.
2024/25
ENYIMBA FC – IKORODU CITY FC
Ikorodu City became the 4th Lagos side to gain promotion to the NPFL in the last 10 seasons, and duly held their own against the big boys. It took a Moses Adikwu header in added time to pip them 2-1 in Aba. A scoreline that looked to being repeated in Lagos before a late equalizer by Ayomide Cole salvaged a point for the Oga Boys.
Barau FC is next to join the queue.
Let the games begin.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
