The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enyimba

  • No panic in Enyimba’s camp – Gata

    No panic in Enyimba’s camp – Gata

    Ismaila Gata has said there is no panic’ in Enyimba’s camp despite their poor form in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The seven-time topflight champions stretched their winless run to four games, after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.

    The People’s Elephants now find themselves sitting in 13th position, three points above the relegation zone. But Gata believes that the squad has the quality to turn their fortunes around.

    “It is not nice to go four games on the bounce without a win and we have not played to the level that we are capable of, but there is no panic,” Gata told Goal.

    “We want to get back on a winning streak and the main thing is to look at ourselves and what we can do. We still have confidence in our own abilities.

    “I still believe that we have a great squad and that we can beat any side in this division when we are at our best.”

    The People’s Elephants will be eyeing a return to winning ways when they host MFM FC on Matchday 13.

  • ‘3SC performed at Enyimba’

    ‘3SC performed at Enyimba’

    Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach, Fatai Amoo has said his wards performed creditable well at former champions, Enyimba.

    The Oluyole Warriors forced the People’s Elephant to 0-0 draw in Wednesday’s top-flight matchday 11 clash at adopted ground, UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    Amoo said the heart-warming goalless will greatly help his side to forge ahead in the ongoing top flight.

    “For us to play Enyimba on home ground to a goalless draw with short one is a huge achievement irrespective of how other people see the result.

    “I have taken the outcome in good fate and joyously, too with the barren draw.

    “The result is good for 3SC, the fans, supporters as well as the management.

    “We must build on the result in our subsequent matches, we will avoid to be carried away else we will be punished especially as we are playing a good side, Plateau United in the next match.

    “Enyimba will always remain a good side given the array and quality of players in its fold so they too played well but I say kudos to my wards for standing their ground.

    “I featured about four players that have never played in the top-flight and they proved their worth.

    “Right now we have competition in the team and the entire team will be the biggest gainer.

    “My players actually performed against Enyimba I just pray they sustain the momentum in other matches,” said the former Sunshine Stars coach to supersport.com.

    The draw at Enyimba adds the Ibadan landlords’ total earnings to 10 from possible 33 in the 11-week old top-flight with a game at hand against champions, Enugu Rangers.

  • Football data base: Enyimba, the best club in Nigeria

    Football data base: Enyimba, the best club in Nigeria

    The famous football data statistics website Footballdatabase recently published its eagerly anticipated ranking of clubs in the world.

    European powerhouses Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern occupy the top three positions, followed by Juventus and Chelsea.

    In the African ranking, Al Ahly (Egypt), TP Mazembe (Congo), Esperance de Tunis, Etoile (both Tunisia) and Vita Club are the top five teams.

    Two-time African champions Enyimba are the top ranked Nigerian club. They were ranked 488th in the global ranking and occupies 31st position in Africa, with a points tally of 1,429.

    Enugu Rangers, Warri Wolves, Rivers United and Wikki Tourist join Enyimba in the top five Nigerian clubs.

  • NPFL: Enyimba vs Akwa United match postponed

    The NPFL  has postponed the   Enyimba vs Akwa United match scheduled to hold on Wed 8th January .
    The match was postponed to Thurs. 9th Jan after Enyimba arrived late yesterday from Maiduguri.
  • Suswam set for Enyimba after Euro stint

    Suswam set for Enyimba after Euro stint

    Former Super Eagles player, Peter Terna Suswam is set to complete a transfer to Enyimba after a stint in Europe.

    The 25-year-old Suswam is returning to the NPFL after a stint in Europe with Vitoria Setubal (Portugal), FK Kukesi (Albania) and Stal Rzeszow (Poland).

    “We are working on a transfer for Suswam,” disclosed a top Enyimba official.

    The right back or defensive midfielder featured for Wikki Tourists and hometown club Lobi Stars before he moved overseas in 2010. He has won two caps for the Super Eagles and also played for the country at the African Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011.

  • Enyimba is bigger than any player, says Ogunbote

    Enyimba is bigger than any player, says Ogunbote

    Newly appointed Enyimba manager, Gbenga Ogunbote has stated that his new squad will deliver in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2016/17 season.
    “We are currently on holiday and will resume on January 2, 2017. We are building a new squad and hopefully the team should be ready for the challenge ahead,” Ogunbote told Goal.
    “Yes, we had a couple of players who left Enyimba FC but sincerely the club is bigger than any player but the focus is on building a team that will compete and lift trophies.
    “You know that Enyimba FC didn’t lift a trophy last season and that may cause some obvious pressure considering that Enyimba FC is the biggest brand in club football in Nigeria.
    “I won’t let such pressure influence my decision or style and I won’t allow it get to the players but the major target is to get back to where the club belongs.”
    Top stars like the former captain of the side, Chinedu Udoji, Etor Daniel, Femi Thomas, Moses Ocheje have all left the Elephant’s camp but Ogunbote has maintained that the club is bigger than any player.

  • Udoh: I’ll do my best as new captain of Enyimba

    Udoh: I’ll do my best as new captain of Enyimba

    There was no overture or meeting of any sort as two-time African champions, Enyimba, nudged the armband, not in a forceful way though, to one of their best performers in recent seasons, Mfon Udoh, with just about one month to the start of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season for 2017.
    Udoh told supersport.com that he knows what is expected of wearing the armband of a successful club such as Enyimba and is braced for the responsibility.
    He explained that the responsibility of captaincy handed to him comes as a surprise and at the same time “means a lot” to him.
    “(This new captaincy responsibility) comes as a surprise sort of, as I wasn’t expecting it. But honestly it means a lot because it comes with so much work and responsibilities,” Udoh told supersport.com.
    “There is no pressure for me (concerning the captaincy). It is just a new challenge which I know I will surely handle well by God’s special grace.”

  • ‘FC Ifeanyi Ubah tried to snatch Fatau Dauda from Enyimba’

    ‘FC Ifeanyi Ubah tried to snatch Fatau Dauda from Enyimba’

    Enyimba recorded one of the biggest transfer coups of the new NPFL season when they snapped up Ghana Black Stars ace Fatau Dauda, but the deal was almost scuttled after regional rivals FC IfeanyiUbah offered the ex-Orlando Pirates shot stopper a far bigger deal.

    The 31-year-old Dauda has signed a two-year contract with seven-time Nigeria champions Enyimba.

    But a top Enyimba official revealed big-spending IfeanyiUbah approached the highly-rated goalkeeper with a double offer at the airport, but Dauda rejected it.

    “IfeanyiUbah promised to double whatever Enyimba gave Dauda, but the goalkeeper insisted that he has given his word to join Enyimba and also Enyimba are a bigger brand than IfeanyiUbah,” disclosed the official.

    The goalkeeper insisted: “The only club I want to play for in Nigeria is Enyimba. I am a longtime admirer of the club because of their rich history and professionalism.”

  • Benjamin Francis joins Enyimba to win trophies

    Benjamin Francis joins Enyimba to win trophies

    Former CHAN Eagles and Sunshine Stars left fullback Benjamin Francis has joined up with Enyimba so as to win trophies.

    Francis, who has also played for Heartland and in Israel, was spotted in the camp of Lobi Stars last week, has finally opted for Enyimba because he wishes to win trophies.

    “I need to win trophies and Enyimba can make this possible. I am a fighter and I am a winner,” declared ‘Papa’, as he is affectionately called by his admirers.

    Francis featured at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa, where Nigeria placed third.

  • Chima Akas returns to Enyimba

    Chima Akas returns to Enyimba

    • Still awaits overseas move

    CHAN Eagles skipper Chima Akas has returned to Enyimba pending his move overseas.
    “I am in the Enyimba camp now in Calabar preparing ahead of the new season,” disclosed the experienced left-back.
    “I just want to play football that is why I returned to my club. I can’t stay at home waiting for a deal.
    “I know I will travel, but I cannot tell you the exact time. I am not in a hurry, I believe at the appointed time of God I will leave.”
    Former Shooting Stars ace Akas is believed to be close to a move to a Turkish club.