Good morning!
Yes, it’s another holiday — not the kind we earn from lifting trophies or making it to the continent, but still, a pause is a pause. The season is done, and while the wounds of what could’ve been still sting, it’s time to begin that honest review of where we’ve been, and what must change for us to go again.
Let’s begin from the back — the guardians of the goalpost, our goalkeeping unit.
We had four goalkeepers this season. Four. But really, when it came to crunch time, there was only one name on everyone’s lips — Ani Ozoemena.
If the heart of a team beats from midfield, the soul of a team lies between the sticks. That position is sacred at Enyimba — almost spiritual. Over the years, we’ve been blessed. Vincent Enyeama — no introduction needed. Dele Aiyenugba — ever reliable. Theophilus Afelokhai — strong and calm under pressure. Fatau Dauda, John Noble, and most recently, Olorunleke Ojo, who left big gloves to fill.
This season, Ani Ozoemena stepped into that pressure cooker and didn’t just survive — he thrived.
It’s hard enough being number one at any NPFL club, but at Enyimba, it’s another level. The expectations are suffocating. One mistake and you’re the villain. One save and you’re expected to do it again… every week.
But Ani grew into the role — calmly, consistently, courageously.
He gave us that confidence you want from your goalkeeper:
The ability to command his area.
Excellent reflexes.
Great vision for building from the back.
And most importantly, unshakeable confidence. He trusted himself — and by extension, made his defenders trust him too.
He might not have had the highest number of clean sheets, but stats don’t tell the full story. He saved games, won us points, and in some moments, made defeats more respectable. Remember those reflex saves? That stop at full stretch? That calm during set pieces? Ani showed he wasn’t just a fill-in — he was the real deal.
There were times when he had to leave us for national team duties — CHAN qualifiers, most notably. His absence was felt. That alone tells you how important he became to us.
Then there were the other three.
Nathaniel Asibe, who started the season as our number two, was seen as the closest challenger to Ani. He had the physique, the attitude, and he wasn’t bad when called upon. But then, injuries came knocking — at the worst possible time. Some fans believed he was dropped for “other reasons” especially after that Mozambique trop fallout, but it was genuinely fitness issues. We lost him when we needed him.
That opened the door for Zalli Abdullahi. And to his credit, he didn’t let the door hit him on the way in. He came in quietly but competently, putting in steady performances. He was thrown into key games, including some of our final fixtures, and while he didn’t wow the world, he earned our respect. You need players like that — reliable, willing, and ready.
And then there was Miracle Ukadike, our fourth-choice, who remained an emergency option we thankfully never had to call into action except during real emergencies. A development project, perhaps? — time will tell.
But here’s where we must be honest: the gap between Ani and the rest was evident. This wasn’t the Enyimba of old, where we had a goalkeeping bench that could start for almost any other team in the league.
There was a time — not too long ago — where if a goalkeeper had one bad game, he’d find himself on the bench, not because he was poor, but because the guy behind him was just as good, if not better. That kind of pressure is healthy. It keeps everyone sharp.
Now, Ani Ozoemena needs that kind of competition next season. Not someone to just take notes during warmups, but a proper, glove-to-glove contender who can push him. Because when keepers are challenged, they level up. And if one falls, the next man steps up without missing a beat.
So yes, kudos to Ani for becoming one of the few bright sparks in a difficult season. And hats off to Zalli, who stepped in when the department could have collapsed.
But if we are truly serious about building a formidable team next season, then our goalkeeping unit must reflect that intent.
We need not just a dependable No. 1, but a dependable 2 and a lurking 3 — all hungry, all sharp.
Let’s raise the bar again.
Back tomorrow as we look at the defence.
Enyimba Enyi
