From Akwa Ibom to Aba: Ezekiel Edidiong’s Relentless Push For Greatness In Enyimba Gathers Momentum

By every measure, Ezekiel Edidiong is a striker forged by humble beginnings, sharpened by discipline, and driven by big dreams.

 

At just a few months into the NPFL 2025/26 season, the Enyimba FC forward is already making his presence felt with four goals and a couple of assists and match winning contributions. And the growing confidence of a player who knows his moment is coming.

Born in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Edidiong’s football story mirrors that of many Nigerian talents who rose from modest environments with nothing but hunger and belief. 

His first real taste of competitive football came with Confine FC in the Nationwide League in Uyo, where raw pace and an eye for goal quickly set him apart.

From there, his rise was steady but earned a move to Ibom Youth FC in the NNL, then to Dakkada FC, where his discipline, work rate, and finishing instincts matured. Those performances opened the door to the NPFL with Remo Stars FC, before he returned to Play for State side, Akwa United and eventually to Nigeria’s most decorated club, Enyimba FC, a stage befitting his growing reputation.

Edidiong’s football DNA is unmistakably Nigerian. He grew up idolising Rashidi Yekini, the late Super Eagles goal machine whose hunger in the box defined an era. From Nwankwo Kanu (incidentally his club Chairman), he learned simplicity, composure, and the magic of intelligence over brute force.

But perhaps most personal is his connection to William Troost-Ekong. Like Edidiong, Ekong hails from Akwa Ibom, and beyond the shared roots, the former Super Eagles captain has played the role of mentor offering words of guidance and inspiration that continue to shape the Enyimba striker’s mindset.

“Troost Ekong has always been like a big brother with his advice,” Edidiong admits a reminder that greatness often grows when paths are lit by those who have walked them before.

While Nigerian legends shaped his foundation, Edidiong’s playing style reflects the modern game. As his football evolved and continues to evolve, he began to model his movement, aggression, and efficiency after Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero, Julián Álvarez, and Jamie Vardy, forwards known for pace, pressing, clever runs, and ruthless finishing. Something he believes he still needs to learn more.

He believes in sharp bursts behind defenders, tireless work without the ball, and a striker’s instinct that unsettles backlines. It was no surprise when his pressure and composure won Enyimba a crucial penalty in Lafia, which his team mate (Kalu Nweke) converted, a moment that underlined his growing influence.

Edidiong’s progress has not gone unnoticed. He served Nigeria’s U-17 Golden Eaglets as vice-captain in 2017, featured for the U-23 team in 2022 and earned a call-up to the Home-Based Super Eagles, including the international friendly against Costa Rica in October 2022. 

Each step has reinforced his belief that hard work still pays in Nigerian football.

Now with four goals already this NPFL season, the soft-spoken striker remains focused, and has refused to be carried away, not distracted by speculation, but driven by purpose.

“My immediate ambition is to score as many goals as i can for Enyimba and help the team finish high,” he says.

“Every player dreams of Europe, but it has to be at the right time.”

Edidiong understands the weight of history, nine-time champions, a demanding fanbase, and a culture of excellence. Despite a challenging campaign, he believes the People’s Elephant still has the quality and resilience to rise.

His message to fans is simple: patience, belief, and unity.

And for Ezekiel Edidiong himself, this feels like just the beginning, a striker shaped by Yekini’s hunger, Kanu’s intelligence, Ekong’s leadership, and refined by the modern instincts of Agüero, Álvarez, and Vardy.

From Etinan to Aba, the road has been long but the destination is clearly in sight.