By Chigozie Chukwuleta
It was a harvest of goals as Enyimba International FC returned to winning ways with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Shooting Stars Sports Club in a rescheduled Matchday 2 fixture of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, on Wednesday at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba.
The nine-time champions produced a ruthless attacking display to claim their first three points of the campaign.
The People’s Elephant started brightly and broke the deadlock as early as the 6th minute when Richard Ezinna pounced on a defensive mix-up to fire home and lift the home supporters.
The lead was doubled in the 28th minute from a corner kick delivered by Obichere Odinaka. The ball fell to Chibueze Damian, who lashed in a superb long-range strike to mark his first goal for the club.
Enyimba made it 3-0 eight minutes later through brilliant team play. Damian turned provider with a defence-splitting pass to Odinaka Obichere, who set up Idris Abubakar to score his maiden NPFL goal.
The hosts continued from where they stopped after the break, extending the lead to 4-0 in the 49th minute. Winger William Wonah embarked on a dazzling solo run past Victor Sochima before squaring for Ifeanyi Ihemekwele to tap in his first goal in eight months for Enyimba.
Shooting Stars fought back late, with substitutes Adams Mustapha and Atule Johnmark pulling two goals back in the 76th and 89th minutes, but the deficit proved too much to overturn.
Reacting after the game, Enyimba assistant coach, Ejeh Okechukwu, expressed delight at the team’s first win.
“We feel fantastic. For the technical crew and players it feels good winning our first game of the season. We have been working on goal scoring. The games we lost saw us create chances and we couldn’t convert them. Today is a reflection of what we did in training,” he said.
Okechukwu, however, admitted the team still needs to tighten up at the back.
“It’s a learning curve for us. We conceded silly goals in our last two home games, that means we haven’t gotten it right defensively. Come Sunday against Plateau United, the lapses will be corrected.”
He also called on the fans to remain patient and keep supporting the team.
“Our fans should keep trooping en masse to support this team. It’s a work in progress. Fans should exercise patience with us, we will get it right. Today is a sign that this team can score goals. When we get it right, it will be a near perfect team,” he added.
Source/Enyimba Media
