Five senior players, including captain Alalibo Somiari, have officially parted ways with Enyimba FC following mutual contract terminations. Also exiting the club are Ezeh Chidera Collins, Nwaodu Chukwudi Justin, Onyemaechi Austin, and Onyirimba Odinaka. The decision comes amid frustrations over limited playing time under head coach Stanley Eguma.
According to an internal source, the players opted for early exits to avoid protracted disputes, invoking Article 31 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). The source explained that the players, some of whom have previously earned national team call-ups, were disheartened by prolonged bench roles and felt sidelined despite their abilities.
Enyimba’s underwhelming 2024/2025 season has seen them knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup and Federation Cup, while also falling short in the NPFL title race. The earlier dismissal of Coach Yemi and the subsequent appointment of Eguma have yet to reverse the club’s fortunes.
With the season nearing its end, all five players are now free agents and will be seeking new clubs ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign.
Editorial
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This exodus at Enyimba isn’t just about playing time, it’s a symptom of deeper structural cracks. When your club captain and four senior players walk away before season’s end, it’s no longer just a personnel issue. It’s a culture crisis.
Enyimba is not just any club. It’s Nigeria’s most successful, a double CAF Champions League winner, a brand that once inspired fear across the continent. But today, it’s a club struggling to find its rhythm, its leadership, and its identity. These contract terminations, though legally smooth, are a red flag for fans and management alike.
Players need minutes, but they also need a system that values them. Coaching philosophies change, but neglecting communication and man-management leads to inevitable fallout. Somiari and his peers aren’t rejects they’re products of a misfiring engine.
This should be a wake up call for the Enyimba board. Before the 2025/2026 season begins, there must be a clear footballing vision, not just a coaching fix. A club this storied deserves better. And so do its players.
Did You Know?
- Enyimba FC is the only Nigerian club to have won the CAF Champions League, achieving the feat in back to back years (2003 and 2004).
- Stanley Eguma, now head coach of Enyimba, previously spent over a decade at Rivers United, guiding them to the 2021/22 NPFL title.
- Alalibo Somiari has captained Enyimba in multiple CAF Confederation Cup matches and was previously linked to clubs in North Africa.
- FIFA’s Article 31 of the RSTP allows players and clubs to end contracts early if both parties agree, avoiding legal complications.
- The NPFL 2024/25 season has seen an uptick in mid-season managerial changes across several top-flight clubs, reflecting broader instability.
