The Sporting Director of Enyimba FC, Ifeanyi Ekwueme and the players have dedicated their hard fought away victory against Niger Tornadoes in the MatchDay27 NPFL encounter to their injured player, Ifeanyi Ihemekwele.
After the disappointment of dropping points at home to Shooting Stars, Enyimba FC delivered the perfect response, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Niger Tornadoes in Lafia.
The victory, sealed by a well-crafted 62nd-minute goal from Joseph Atule, marked the People’s Elephant’s third away triumph of the NPFL season and a testament to their resilience in regaining their dominance in the league.
Speaking after the match, Enyimba’s Sporting Director, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, heaped praise on the team for their strong mentality and positive reaction following the setback in Aba.
“I am delighted with the reaction of the players after the unfortunate home draw against Shooting Stars”,
“Their response and approach to this game were very positive, and I urge them to keep pushing because the league is far from over, with about 11 more games to go”, he said
Enyimba, nine-time NPFL champions, showed their experience in closing out a tricky fixture against Tornadoes, controlling the tempo and capitalizing on a well-executed counterattack.
Atule’s goal was the product of a seamless one-two exchange between the returning Nnaji Christian and second-half substitute Quadri Odusokanmi, allowing the forward to finish clinically inside the box.
Despite having chances to extend the lead—through Isah in the first half and both Awazie and Atule later on—Enyimba held firm to secure all three points. But beyond the victory, the match carried extra significance for the team.
Ekwueme revealed that the win was dedicated to injured striker, Ifeanyi Ihemekwele, who has been sidelined due to injury. Before kickoff, the Enyimba squad made a touching gesture by displaying his jersey in solidarity, a moment that resonated deeply with the entire club.
” We dedicate this victory to our injured striker, Ifeanyi Ihemekwele. As you may have seen today, the players did the same before the game with his branded jersey. On behalf of the Chairman, Kanu Nwankwo, the management, technical crew, and the players, we wish him and others a quick recovery.”
With momentum back on their side, Enyimba will now turn their focus to their next challenge—a crucial home fixture against El-Kanemi Warriors in Aba. With 11 games left in the season, the People’s Elephant are well aware that every point matters in their quest for league glory.
