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Tag: Enyimba

  • Enyimba will win NPFL – Amapakabo

    Enyimba will win NPFL – Amapakabo

    Enugu Rangers head coach, Imama Amapakabo, has said six-time Nigerian champions, Enyimba, will emerge champions of the ongoing 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    The People’s Elephant leads the 20-team Nigerian top flight with 58 points from 31 matches, supersport.com reports.

    Amapakabo said the Aba-based club is the favourite to win an unprecedented seventh NPFL title.

    “Enyimba is right now strongly dictating the pace at the top spot on the league table.

    “I think the club is currently in pole position to win the league title for the seventh time.

    “Though the remaining matches on the calendar will be quite crucial if the club will go ahead to win the trophy, ” the former Enyimba coach told supersport.com.

     

  • Ikhana: Enyimba away win from league title

    Ikhana: Enyimba away win from league title

    Enyimba coach Kadiri Ikhana has said his club need an away win to be crowned Nigeria champions for the seventh time.

    Enyimba are top of the table with 58 points from 31 matches, five points clear of closest rivals Sunshine Stars.

    Their remaining away games are at Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United and derbies against Abia Warriors and Heartland.

    “We need to win an away game and we will be champions,” said Ikhana after Sunday’s 2-0 home win over fellow title chasers Wikki Tourists.

    “We have recorded five draws and won four for a total of 17 points on the road.

    “We want to keep the pace and we are doing just that. Last week, we had a four-point gap and this week, five-point gap. So, you can see the difference.”

    However, Ikhana maintained the title race remains too close to call.

    “Everybody is very far from trophy because we still have seven matches to play. The gap at the top is still close,” he said.

    On Sunday in Aba, Ikhana deployed skipper Chinedu Udoji from his familiar central defence position to defensive midfield and he scored the two goals that sunk Wikki.

    “We had several chances, we should have been three goals up in the first half. In the second half, we came close too. We created several chances, but did not utilise them,” the coach said.

    “Maybe I should take some credit for Udoji’s goals because before now he has not scored playing under several other coaches.

    “I am happy about that.”

  • NPFL Title Run-in: Enyimba favourites to win-Poll

    NPFL Title Run-in: Enyimba favourites to win-Poll

    Despite losing away from home against El Kanemi Warriors and having their momentum halted, Enyimba are still fans’ favourites to lift the Nigeria Professional Football League (npfl) title.

    The People’s Elephant have been widely tipped by Goal readers to win their seventh title ahead of close challengers Warri Wolves, Sunshine Stars and Wikki Tourists.

    An overwhelming 77.4 per cent of Goal readers believe that the Aba Millionaires have the title in the bag, with eight matches left to play.

    Respondents believe that Sunshine Stars, not currently second-placed Warri Wolves, would be the biggest challenger to the title as the Akure team polled 12.2 per cent of the votes.

    Wolves come in third with 7.8 per cent while Wikki Tourists are the team least expected to offer a challenge to win the title among the top four sides.

    However, Enyimba have a big schedule ahead of them as they welcome Wikki to Aba on Sunday before traveling to Owerri to face eastern rivals Heartland as well as games against city rivals Abia Warriors, Shooting Stars and title rivals Warri Wolves and Sunshine on the last day of the season.

    Meanwhile, Sunshine also have difficult ties against mid-table sides Akwa United, Lobi Stars, Enugu Rangers as well as reigning champions Kano Pillars and second-placed Wolves in their final run-in.

    This has been the tradition of the NPFL, the team with a better away record and a tight leash at home would stand the best chance of winning the title.

    With eight games to go, there’s a lot to play for among the favourites.

  • ‘Double possible at Enyimba’

    ‘Double possible at Enyimba’

    FC Ifeanyiubah right-back, Chibuzor Okonkwo has said that double is quite possible at oriental neighbours and leaders, Enyimba.

    The newcomers will be the guests of the People’s Elephant in midweek NPFL match day 27 encounter at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

    The Nnewi outfit won 2-0 during the first fixture clash against Enyimba at the Gabros International Stadium in Nnewi.

    Okonkwo said the in-form Aba outfit are a difficult side, especially on home turf but insisted that his side bench and quality players on their rosters are strong motivation to go for the points at stake.

    “Double is a possibility at Enyimba as we all know that in football impossibility is nothing.

    “Enyimba are a experienced and strong side mostly on home ground, we will accord them due respect but won’t fear them on the field of play.

    “With our current form and the quality bench we can always take our chances at Enyimba.

    “The chances will surely come, I just hope we will use it well to put smiles on the faces of our teeming supporters and the  Anambra State people,” said the former Enugu Rangers strongman to supersport.com.

    FC Ifeanyiubah are ninth on the 20-team top flight on 38 points from possible 78 in the 26-week old league.

  • Enyimba remain top of the log

    Enyimba remain top of the log

    Enyimba remained on top of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after Week 26 games.

    ‘The People Elephants’ now have 49 points from 26 games following a goalless draw at Sharks, while second-placed Sunshine Stars lost 2-1 at Wikki.

    Enyimba forward Ahmed Kone failed to score in the 20th minute after he had beaten two Sharks defenders with Henry Ayodele making easy save.

    Sharks Jackson Daniel then headed wide in the 32nd minute.

    Ahmed Kone found the side netting for Enyimba in the 56th minute.

    Sharks Jackson Daniel had his effort at goal in the 65th minute cleared off the goal line by skipper Chinedu Udoji.

  • Enyimba’s Thomas wants more success on the road

    Enyimba’s Thomas wants more success on the road

    Goalkeeper Femi Thomas wants more success on the road after helping Enyimba earn a share of the spoils in Oghara against Bayelsa United on Saturday.

    The game may have ended 1-1 and Enyimba will believe they deserved more from the tie but Femi Thomas is the reason the six-time champions did not leave empty handed.

    His left-handed save in the 84th that kept out Eric Frimpong’s header was one of the many crucial saves the 26-year-old had made in the Matchday 23 fixture and it underscored his brilliance on the day.

    After the game, Thomas told EnyimbaFC.net he wants his club to continue picking points on the road.

    “This our match with Bayelsa United shows the league is getting tougher and away victories will be hard to get, but I just want the team to continue getting points anytime we play away,” he said.

    “If we keep picking up away points, whether from draws or victories, it will help us a lot by the end of the season, so I’m okay with our result against Bayelsa.

    “You can’t win every away match and no team is a small team, so we must accept this one point but be ready to get more from other matches. As long as we can win our home games, away points will ultimately help us win the league.

    “As a goalkeeper, I will continue to do my best to make sure we don’t concede many goals. I have very good defenders in front of me and it makes my job easier. It’s just for us as a team to keep our heads up and make sure we win as many games as possible,” Thomas said.

    Enyimba will host Kano

    Pillars on Wednesday in Aba.

  • Enyimba’s Udoh praises Eagles list

    Enyimba’s Udoh praises Eagles list

    • Seeks three points against Lobi

    Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh has praised the Super Eagles handlers for the consideration given to the home based in their choice of the 23 players invited for the Gabon 2017 AFCON qualifier.

    Udoh scored 23 league goals to become the all-time highest scorer in the league last season and he has been out of most of the league matches this term on the account of an ailment.

    The former Akwa United striker returned to the game after about 13 games out against his ex-club in Uyo last Wednesday and the player in an interview with SportingLife has thumbed up the list of home-based players released for the AFCON qualifier.

    “I am thrilled with the list released by the Eagles’ coaches and the names of players on that list really reflected players that are currently playing well for their clubs. It would have been partiality if I was picked. The truth is always bitter,”Udoh told SportingLife.

    Udoh further revealed his delight after he returned from the ailment that sidelined him for some weeks adding that his immediate goal is to ensure that Enyimba improve better on the league table and lay their hands on the elusive league title this term.

    He pointed out that they would come all out against Lobi Stars in Aba today with their sights on the three points which he reckons could take them back to the top of the league.

    Udoh has scored four goals from eight games this season.

  • Enyimba goalkeeper disappointed to drop points at Akwa

    Enyimba goalkeeper disappointed to drop points at Akwa

    Enyimba goalkeeper Femi Thomas has told AfricanFootball.com his side deserved to beat hosts Akwa United on Wednesday in a Week 21 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    He said the 2-2 draw is not the true reflection of the play but admits a point is better than nothing. The result also means Enyimba lost the leadership of the Nigeria league to closest rivals Sunshine Stars.

    “It was a good game for both sides, but in my opinion, we deserved to win the game,” Thomas told AfricanFootball.com.

    “The 2-2 draw was not the true reflection of the game because we created chances and couldn’t convert them. The draw was better than losing anyway. And I must praise the officials for good officiating of the game.”

  • IKHANA BOASTS: Enyimba want to win league

    IKHANA BOASTS: Enyimba want to win league

    Enyimba head coach Kadiri Ikhana has said the ambition of the side is to win a record seventh title in the ongoing Nigeria top flight.

    The six-time Nigerian champions will be the guests of Akwa United in a midweek Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 21 clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

    Ikhana said his side does not prepare for a particular match but all the matches on the season’s calendar.

    “We want to win the league title, not only Akwa United game, but all the matches on the calendar. We are working very hard daily towards achieving the laudable goal.

    “Every game counts for us as any slip from now till the end of the season will land you where you least expected. The challenge and contest are becoming too keen with every game so we must put in our whole best to achieve the desired result.

    “It’s a bit unfortunate we could not claim the whole three points against neighbours Enugu Rangers on Sunday. Akwa United did well going out there at Bayelsa United to pick a point. I believe that will make the clash more entertaining, interesting and tough.

    “However, like I said early, our goal is to win the league title so we will stop at nothing to achieve the goal no matter how daunting the task may be,” said the former Kwara United coach to supersport.com.

    Enyimba lead the pack at the summit on 37 points, one point above hottest challengers, Sunshine Stars.

  • Enyimba overtake Sunshine at the top

    Enyimba overtake Sunshine at the top

    Enyimba have overthrown Sunshine Stars at the top of the Glo Premier League table after they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba yesterday.

    The People’s Elephant had sought double over their oriental brothers having won the first leg 2-1 in Enugu but the Flying Antelopes had other ideas as they frustrated their foes and recorded a famous point in Aba.

    Rangers showed they meant business when they shot into the lead midway into the first 30 minutes of the game through Onoriode Odah before Musa Najere equalised for the Aba giants in the 39th minute of the first half.

    Enyimba leapfrogged Sunshine Stars, who lost 1-0 to FC Taraba in Jalingo, and  moved to first on the log with 37 points from 20 matches while Rangers are now on 28 points from 20 games too.