Tag: Enyimba

Brown Ideye is back where it all began, donning the Enyimba jersey as he seeks to make his mark in the Nigerian Professional Football League and the CAF Confederation Cup. In this report, JOHNNY EDWARD writes about the striker’s emotional return to the NPFL after 15 years…

After about 18-month break from professional football, Brown Ideye made a highly anticipated return to the NPFL, much to the delight of fans and football enthusiasts.

The 34-year-old striker, who enjoyed a successful career in Europe playing for clubs such as Neuchâtel Xamax, Dynamo Kyiv, West Bromwich Albion, and Olympiacos as well as winning titles now aims to make an impact with the nine-time NPFL champions, Enyimba.

Speaking on his return to the  Nigerian league, Ideye revealed a deep sense of excitement and gratitude.

His debut match, a fixture against Bendel Insurance, marked a significant milestone in his career.

Despite being introduced late in the game, the experience left him with a profound sense of fulfilment.

“It felt really good,” Ideye told Nation Sports. “As a football player, you always need to stay prepared, and I was excited that the coach gave me the opportunity to play at home. “It was a special moment.”

In his second match for Enyimba, a CAF Confederation Cup clash against Black Bulls at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Ideye showcased his enduring class and instinct for goals.

The 2013 AFCON star Ideye scored within minutes rounding off the goalkeeper after being substituted into the game – an instant  impact that further endeared him to Enyimba fans.

“I knew I would score if the coach introduced me earlier,” Ideye said confidently. “I tend to score in my second game, even if I don’t in my debut. While on the substitutes bench, I saw gaps in their defence and was ready to make an impact when the opportunity came.”

Between Enyimba and others

Despite receiving offers from clubs in other countries, Ideye chose to return to Enyimba for both professional and personal reasons.

His decision, he explained, was guided by a desire to return to familiar territory and contribute meaningfully to Nigerian football.

“The countries I got lucrative offers from didn’t feel right for me or my family,” he shared.

“Joining Enyimba was the right choice for me and I’m happy with the move.”

For Ideye, this decision goes beyond personal gain. His goal is to inspire a new generation of footballers in Nigeria while encouraging his former teammates to consider playing in the NPFL before retiring.

“I’ve told them to consider playing here before retiring,” he said. “We need to create an environment that is welcoming for returning players, just like players from South America are welcomed back home.

“It’s about building our league and showing that it’s a viable platform for both young and experienced players.”

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Yet at 34, Ideye remains as ambitious as ever.

His main objective this season is to help Enyimba secure the NPFL title and make significant progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.

With Enyimba still in contention for a spot in the quarter-finals, he believes the team has what it takes to achieve great things.

“Winning the NPFL title would be a blessing,” Ideye said. “It would also be the perfect way to end my career.”

While focused on his current club responsibilities, Ideye has not ruled out a return to the Nigerian national team.

He emphasised, however, that this would only happen once he feels he is at peak fitness.

“For now, I’m focused on enjoying football with Enyimba and helping the team win games,” he added.

A legacy of dedication

During his hiatus from professional football, Ideye remained disciplined, maintaining his fitness and readiness for a potential return.

This commitment underscores his dedication to the sport and his determination to continue making an impact, both on and off the field.

Looking to the future, Ideye hinted at the possibility of transitioning into coaching once he decides to hang up his boots.

“Coaching might be something I consider,” he said. “But for now, I’m enjoying being back on the pitch, doing what I love.”

As Ideye embarks on this new chapter with Enyimba, he stands as a beacon of inspiration for Nigerian football, proving that with determination and passion, it’s never too late to come home and make a difference.

Enyimba secured their first win of the ongoing CAF Confederation Cup group stage following their 4-1 home win over Black Bulls of Mozambique in a Matchday Four tie played yesterday in Uyo.

The People’s Elephant had won only two games in their last 10 games but they showed no such rustiness at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium scoring four goals past the same side that pummelled them 3-0 in Maputo two weeks ago.

Atule who was unarguably the Man of the Match scored Enyimba’s opener in the seventh minute after he capitalised on a defensive blunder but the visitors equalised through Ejaiti from another defensive gaffe from Somiari Alalibo in the 13th minute. 

The People’s Elephant did manage go into the halftime with a 2-1 lead after Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored for the Nigerian side.

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The second half witnessed the introduction of Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye in the 61st minute in place of Ekene Awazie for his debut on the continent with Enyimba and he rewarded the coach’s confidence in him with a sweet goal in the 68th minute to make it 3-1.

Atule burst away from the flank to make it 4-1 in the 90th minute to throw the travelling supporter of Enyimba into wild jubilation.

Despite the win, Enyimba are still last in the group with four points from four games because they allowed the Mozambican to score a goal here. They would have toppled the visitors from Maputo had the game ended in a 4-0 win.

Enyimba will face Al Masry in another home game on Sunday in Uyo with a win lifting them above the Egyptian side who are currently second in the group with five points from as many games. 

In another group game, Black Bulls will be at home to group leaders, Zamalek also on Sunday in Maputo.

Enyimba have finally  unveiled 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Brown Ideye, as their new player and he is expected to provide another striking  option for new coach, Stanley Eguma.

The club unveiled the former NPFL champion with Ocean Boys via their social media pages and subsequently expressed joy at recruiting the experienced goal poacher.

“We are delighted to officially announce the addition of former Super Eagles Striker, Brown Ideye to our fold,” Enyimba said on social media.

“We are expectant of the experience and professionalism he will add to our game/quest in our remaining games, this season especially under the New Gaffer.”

The attacker is expected to make his debut for Enyimba as they host Bendel Insurance in a NPFL Matchday 19 rescheduled game today in Aba.

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In  a related development,  the Head Coach of Bendel Insurance, Greg Ikhenoba , has set sights on securing an away win over Enyimba FC in Aba tonight.

The Benin Arsenals will confront the People’s Elephant in a rearranged   Matchday 19 NPFL duel at the Enyimba Stadium Aba and the visitors are relishing a chance to win the game and leave the relegation zone for good.

“Do not feel that you are playing for anybody but for yourself and your career. Nothing stops us from winning in Aba. Remove any negative thoughts and fears that you are playing against a big team in their domain,” Ikhenoba told the club’s media. “We just have to do our very best to get good results in Aba. Let us end the first round on a good note. Winning is possible, depending on our mentality.”

Al Masry midfielder Mahmoud Hamada netted twice  in each half to propel his Egyptian club to a 2-0 win over Enyimba  at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab stadium in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage opener yesterday.

The former Egyptian midfielder reacted quickest to a rebound to net the first goal after just six minutes.

The Port-Said based side controlled the game and they were close to doubling the advantage on many occasions but they failed to score.

Their wait and patience was later rewarded in the 74^th  minute when Hamada met a pinpoint cross from Mohamed El-Shami to fire home the second goal.

Elsewhere  in Tunisia, Algerian side CS Constantine pulled off a late upset against CS Sfaxien with Brahim Dib scoring the decisive goal in the 81^st minute.

The forward’s clinical finish, following Mohamed Benchaira’s through ball, silenced the home crowd at the Stade Olympique Hammadi-Agrebi.

Despite their dominance in possession, Sfaxien failed to convert their chances, with Hazem Haj Hassen missing a crucial header in the dying minutes.

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Earlier in the day, Simba SC from Tanzania edged Angola’s Bravos do Maquis 1-0 in Dar es Salaam. Jean Ahoua’s penalty in the 27th minute was enough to secure three points for the Tanzanian giants.

The win sees Simba top Group A, with Constantine trailing on goal difference.

Meanwhile, at  the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, ASEC Mimosas displayed their intent with a commanding 2-0 win over Senegalese outfit ASC Jaraaf.

Razack Cissé and Kankonde Tshisungu found the back of the net, with the latter’s header in the 71^st  minute leaving Jaraaf’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

ASEC leads Group C  with three points, while Jaraaf will need to regroup ahead of their next fixture.

Enyimba head coach, Yemi Olanrewaju has stressed that the People’s Elephant do not have much time to dwell on their away draw with Bayelsa United as they set sights on the visit of Remo Stars to Aba this weekend in one of the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 11 ties.

The nine-time champions were held to a 1-1 draw in Yenagoa by under-fire Bayelsa United and Olanrewaju in his post- match presser said he was not happy his boys could not secure the maximum points despite having the chance to do so but that he has now shifted his focus to their weekend’s home game with Remo Stars.

“We knew they would resort to a lot of long balls in the first half and so I asked them to calm the game and try to play from the back. Our style is to play from the back while we force them to make mistakes,” Olanrewaju told journalists in  Yenagoa.

“We allowed them to have their way tried to make use of the ball well when we had it. It was a game we could have won because they didn’t create anything in the second half except the use of their long balls. Execution in the final third was not good enough.

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“The disallowed goal wasn’t an offside but I don’t like to talk about officiating because it is out of my control. Well the referees saw it better and knew better why the goal was disallowed.

“I don’t think we can celebrate a draw because this is Enyimba where only a win is good enough. We came here for the three points because we won here last year. It was why I was furious with our goalkeeper for conceding what I called a cheap goal.

“If we had finished the first half with a goal advantage, they would be eager to equalise in the second half and we would have  punished them with more goals. We will manage the one point and go back home to prepare for Remo Stars.”

Enyimba are third on the log with 18 points from 10 games ahead of the blockbuster fixture with Remo Stars this weekend in Aba.

Enyimba FC head coach, Yemi Olanrewaju says they expect a tough game against Niger Tornadoes in today’s NPFL Match Day 7 encounter in Aba.

Olanrewaju whose  wards forced Shooting Stars to a goalless draw in Ibadan last weekend admitted that Niger Tornadoes who have won two of the three away games so far this season could be difficult to beat. 

“Yeah, we know it’s going to be a difficult game. They haven’t won at their home and they have done better at away matches,” Olanrewaju told the club’s media.

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“Having drawn against Lobi Stars at home last weekend, they would want to come to get something but we know their tactics.

“We would be ready for them. In the past three games we’ve been having clean sheets and we want to maintain that to gather as much points as possible to put pressure on Remo Stars and Rivers United at the top of the table.

Enyimba are third on the log with 13 points from 6 games while their visitors are placed 6th  with  nine  points from same number of games.

Nigeria’s remaining representative on the continent, Enyimba completed the registration of their players for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage in time before the September 30th deadline given by the  Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CAF confirmed the closure of registration for the Champions League and Confederation Cup on Monday and the People’s Elephant  are  among the 16 clubs that will vie for the eight quarter final tickets.

The African football apex body earlier in September announced the 30th   deadline date for all teams that qualified for the group stage of the competition to submit the list of the players they intend using for the lucrative group stage.

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Enyimba International is among the 16 qualified teams for the group stage of the second tier Africa’s clubs competition . 

The People’s Elephant defeated Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso 3-2 via penalty shootout after a goalless 180 minutes in the second preliminary round to seal a place in the group stage.