Enyimba Slash Players’ Salaries by 50% After Poor Run

Enyimba International FC have imposed a 50% pay cut on their players, citing a string of disappointing performances in both the NPFL and continental competition.

The club made the decision amid a run of poor form, including a home defeat to Wikki Tourists. In a meeting between management and players, the salary reduction was announced as a temporary measure “until performances improve.”

Vice-Captain Paschal Eze apologized to fans on behalf of the squad, promising that the team would “work hard to turn things around.”

Editorial

What Enyimba have done is bold and risky. Slashing players’ wages by half is not a mere financial adjustment it is a statement of urgency, frustration, and perhaps even desperation. For a club of Enyimba’s stature — one that has tasted continental glory accepting mediocrity is not part of the deal. Management clearly believes that the only way back to form is through pain.

Yet, this is a double-edged sword. Confidence is fragile. Asking players to do more, while giving them less, could deepen the malaise rather than cure it. The emotional burden of underperformance is already heavy — now the financial burden weighs in too. For younger or less established players, losing half their salary could handicap their motivation and focus.

That said, the decision also reveals a rare accountability. Too often in Nigerian club football, poor results are tolerated mismanagement goes unchecked. Enyimba’s leadership is taking a stand. This pay cut is not just about money — it is demanding that the players take ownership.

What remains to be seen is how the squad responds. Will this be the shock therapy that revives them? Or will it sow resentment? The next few matches will tell the story. If Enyimba bounce back, this could be remembered as a turning point. If not, it may be a self-inflicted wound.

Did You Know?

1. Enyimba’s pay cut comes amid poor form both in the NPFL and their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
2. The team’s Vice-Captain, Paschal Eze, publicly apologized to fans after the announcement, pledging improved performances.
3. The 50% salary reduction is explicitly stated to be “until performances improve,” hinting that the cut could be reversed if results turn around.
4. Enyimba have lost to Wikki Tourists at home during the same poor stretch of form.
5. The salary cut was agreed upon in a meeting between club management and the players, showing a collaborative (if difficult) approach to solving the crisis.