From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad20 Nov 2028
The manager makes an example of Samual Nuako
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad20 Nov 2028
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Enyimba , and both men came out saying it was fine.
Squad20 Nov 2028
Paul Odeh keeps his manager's voteThe message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Paul Odeh plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match11 Sep 2028
Enyimba up to position 164 points on the board and a place in the leading group. Nobody at the ground is saying the word out loud yet.
Market11 Sep 2028
The bid was some way short and Enyimba did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.
Match9 Sep 2028
No end in sight to Enyimba 's wait for a win
4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Enyimba has to find a result from somewhere.
Squad11 Sep 2028
Paul Odeh gets it from the manager“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad11 Sep 2028
David Eke is in the form of his lifeA season average of 7.31 with 4 goals behind it. Opponents have started planning around him, which is the sincerest compliment football pays.
Match9 Sep 2028
The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Shooting Stars defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.
Squad11 Sep 2028
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Market11 Sep 2028
The window shut and Henry Ndedi is still in the building
Enyimba spent a month trying to move him and nobody rang back. He trains with a squad that has told him where he stands, and both sides start counting down to the next one.
Market11 Sep 2028
No fee, no negotiation, no argument: Nathaniel Asibe moves on to another club with his contract settled and the wage bill a little lighter.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market28 Aug 2028
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Enyimba can pretend not to have heard.
Market28 Aug 2028
Both sides expect a conversation in the coming days. Enyimba will name a price, and everything after that is arithmetic.
Squad28 Aug 2028
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad28 Aug 2028
Paul Odeh has to sit this one outA booking nobody needed, on a night the game was already won. Enyimba lose a player for the most avoidable reason there is.
Match26 Aug 2028
Nil-nil, and few chances worth the name. Rangers International came to defend and left with exactly what they came for.
Squad28 Aug 2028
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Afolayan Peters will call it something else in private.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match19 Jun 2028
Enyimba are in among the leadersPosition 3 and 43 points on the board. Nobody at the ground will say the word out loud yet, and everybody at the ground is thinking it.
Match17 Jun 2028
9 unbeaten for Enyimba
Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 9 matches without defeat is a foundation Enyimba did not have in the autumn.
Squad19 Jun 2028
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Sunday Aniebet commits to Enyimba for another 4 years.
Squad19 Jun 2028
Paul Odeh gets it from the manager“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Match17 Jun 2028
1-1, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.
Squad19 Jun 2028
The shirt belongs to Kalu Nweke now
At 33 he has made the position his own, and the man he took it from has to find something to say about it. Enyimba have a decision that made itself.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match10 Jun 2028
8 unbeaten for Enyimba
Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 8 matches without defeat is a foundation Enyimba did not have in the autumn.
Squad12 Jun 2028
Emeka Onyema gets it from the manager“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Match10 Jun 2028
A 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match15 Apr 2028
6 matches without a win for Enyimba
The run now stands at 6, and the questions being asked around Enyimba are no longer polite ones.
Match15 Apr 2028
2-3 to Rangers International , and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.
Squad17 Apr 2028
The manager makes an example of Paul Odeh
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Paul Odeh The manager makes an example of Paul Odeh
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Market24 Jan 2028
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Enyimba can pretend not to have heard.
Market24 Jan 2028
Godwin Dede has one foot out of the doorTerms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Enyimba they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Match22 Jan 2028
Beaten 0-1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match15 Jan 2028
A 1-0 win over Abia Warriors , earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad17 Jan 2028
The medical room confirms 45 days on the sidelines for Walid Tawfik , and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.
Market17 Jan 2028
Both sides expect a conversation in the coming days. Enyimba will name a price, and everything after that is arithmetic.
Squad17 Jan 2028
The manager makes an example of Emeka Onyema
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad17 Jan 2028
The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.
Squad17 Jan 2028
Somebody is after Kalu Nweke ’s shirt
A new face in his position, and Kalu Nweke suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Enyimba have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
Market17 Jan 2028
Enyimba have made Mohammed Hussaini available for transfer. A career at this club is over in all but paperwork.
Market17 Jan 2028
No fee, no negotiation, no argument: Alex Adeleye moves on to another club with his contract settled and the wage bill a little lighter.
Market17 Jan 2028
Contract settled, hands shaken, no fee changing hands. Anthony Chukwueze leaves Enyimba the quiet way, and the wage bill breathes a little easier.
In brief
The terraces
The press have found their man in Paul Odeh
The terraces
The stand has a song for Paul Odeh
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad8 Nov 2027
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Squad8 Nov 2027
The manager makes an example of Usman Lolo
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad8 Nov 2027
Sunday Aniebet knocks on the manager's door“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Enyimba , and both men came out saying it was fine.
Henry Ndedi Henry Ndedi says Enyimba went back on their word
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match28 Aug 2027
Beaten 1-4 by Rangers International , and beaten everywhere it matters. The inquest starts on the training pitch on Monday morning.
Squad30 Aug 2027
At 21, David Eke is already the best thing here
An average of 7.03 in a first team he is several years too young for. Enyimba have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
Squad30 Aug 2027
Uwana Asuquo gets it from the manager“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
David Eke At 21, David Eke is already the best thing here
Market30 Aug 2027
The name of Ebube Success has come up in conversations Enyimba were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
Boardroom30 Aug 2027
The manager kept them in and said what needed saying. A response is expected on Saturday, and if it does not come the questions move upstairs.
Squad30 Aug 2027
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Market2 Aug 2027
Ebube Success hands in a written request“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Enyimba can pretend not to have heard.
Squad2 Aug 2027
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Paul Odeh commits to Enyimba for another 3 years.
Squad2 Aug 2027
David Eke is the real thing at 21A season average of 7.02 at an age when most of his year group are still in the youth team. Enyimba know what they have, and so, by now, does everybody else.
Squad2 Aug 2027
27 days, the medical staff say, and medical staff are optimists by profession. The team sheet will look wrong without him.
Match31 Jul 2027
Ikorodu City left with the points after a 0-1 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.
Boardroom2 Aug 2027
The manager kept them in and said what needed saying. A response is expected on Saturday, and if it does not come the questions move upstairs.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market21 Jun 2027
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Enyimba they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Match19 Jun 2027
6 unbeaten for Enyimba
Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 6 matches without defeat is a foundation Enyimba did not have in the autumn.
Match19 Jun 2027
A 2-1 win over Wikki Tourists , earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad21 Jun 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad21 Jun 2027
The medical room confirms 52 days on the sidelines for Ebube Nwachukwu , and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.
Market21 Jun 2027
Both sides expect a conversation in the coming days. Enyimba will name a price, and everything after that is arithmetic.
Squad21 Jun 2027
Sunday Aniebet knocks on the manager's door“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Enyimba , and both men came out saying it was fine.
Squad21 Jun 2027
Every debut is a small story about the future: Goodluck Nkemakolam , 19 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
The terraces21 Jun 2027
The press cannot get enough of Paul Odeh
Praise is not points and never has been. It is, however, the fastest way for a valuation to move, and everybody in the game reads the same pages.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market14 Jun 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad14 Jun 2027
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Enyimba have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Market14 Jun 2027
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Enyimba they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad14 Jun 2027
The manager makes an example of Stanley Dimgba
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Market14 Jun 2027
Both sides expect a conversation in the coming days. Enyimba will name a price, and everything after that is arithmetic.
Squad14 Jun 2027
Sunday Aniebet asks for a word with the manager“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market7 Jun 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad7 Jun 2027
At 20, David Eke is already the best thing here
An average of 7.00 in a first team he is several years too young for. Enyimba have something, and by now the whole division has noticed.
Market7 Jun 2027
Stephen Ugonna has one foot out of the doorTerms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Enyimba they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad7 Jun 2027
The manager makes an example of Paul Odeh
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad7 Jun 2027
The medical room confirms 73 days on the sidelines for Godwin Dede , and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.
Match5 Jun 2027
A 1-1 draw with Nasarawa United leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match1 May 2027
5 matches without a win for Enyimba
The run now stands at 5, and the questions being asked around Enyimba are no longer polite ones.
Market3 May 2027
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Enyimba is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad3 May 2027
Paul Odeh gets it from the manager“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.