Enyimba Aim to Finish NPFL Season with Flair Against Plateau United

Enyimba will host Plateau United on Sunday in what promises to be an emotionally charged end to the 2024/2025 NPFL season. Although the title and continental spots are already decided, this clash remains a matter of pride for Nigeria’s most decorated club.

The showdown at Enyimba Stadium in Aba marks Matchday 38, with both teams seeking to leave a lasting impression. Enyimba officials have framed the fixture as a “battle for pride, glory and the badge”, underscoring the symbolic weight it carries.

Coach Stanley Eguma, who led the team with ambition, is urging his players to approach the game with purpose. “We’ll approach the game like every other, but with the sole aim of getting victory as a ‘thank you gift’ to our fans,” he said.

Though Enyimba narrowly missed a top-three finish, the team is focused on honouring their supporters. Plateau United, known as the Peace Boys, also have little to fight for competitively, but their pride and history against Enyimba demand a strong performance. The head to head record since 2010 is dead even: seven wins each and four draws from 18 matches.

Their last encounter ended in a draw, leaving Sunday’s meeting as the perfect opportunity to tip the balance. For the fans in Aba, whose loyalty has never wavered, the players know they must deliver a performance worthy of the badge.

As the final whistle of the season approaches, expect intensity, passion and perhaps a glimpse of the team’s ambitions for the next campaign.

Editorial

We often speak of football as a game of results, statistics and standings. But when everything is settled on the table and there’s “nothing to play for”, that’s when we find out what a club truly stands for. Enyimba’s final match of the season may not change their league position, but it carries meaning beyond points.

This is about identity about what it means to wear the jersey, to play for fans who’ve turned up in sun and rain, who chant through disappointment and roar through triumph. The fixture against Plateau United is not a dead rubber. It’s a test of character, a symbolic gesture that says “We’re still here, we still care.”

It’s the last chance for players to earn trust, to sign off on the season with dignity. For coach Eguma, it’s an opportunity to reaffirm belief in his project. He took charge with vision; now he must show that vision has substance.

And let’s not forget the opponent. Plateau United are no pushovers. They’ve matched Enyimba stride for stride over the last decade, and they will not roll over in Aba. This adds fire to what could otherwise be a forgettable fixture.

The real winners of Sunday’s clash might not be recorded on a scoreboard. The winners could be the fans, the ball boys, the vendors in the stands those who live for the badge, week in and week out. A committed performance, a determined display, and a moment or two of brilliance could give them the closure they deserve.

As we draw the curtain on this campaign, we want to remember Enyimba not for falling short, but for standing tall. This is their chance to remind us who they are.

Did You Know?

1. Enyimba were the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League, doing so in 2003 and again in 2004.
2. The club is nicknamed “The People’s Elephant”, symbolising strength and community pride.
3. Plateau United’s 2017 NPFL title win was their first ever top flight league triumph.
4. Enyimba International Stadium in Aba has undergone several upgrades to meet CAF standards for continental matches.
5. Stanley Eguma previously led Rivers United to a historic NPFL title before joining Enyimba.