Momentum On Line As Enyimba Storm Ibadan for WABIA Derby Clash

 

As the curtain rises on the second round of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season, nine-time champions Enyimba FC will on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 renew hostilities with Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC of Ibadan in a high-stakes WABIA Derby that promises fireworks.

It is a return leg of the emphatic first-round encounter in Aba where the People’s Elephant trampled the Oluyole Warriors 3–0, and fittingly, the clash also marks Enyimba’s first fixture of the league’s second-round phase.

Speaking ahead of the showdown, Enyimba FC head coach, Lawrence Ukaegbu, made it clear that his side is not resting on past laurels, insisting that the Aba giants are determined to sustain the momentum with which they ended the first round.

“We want to continue from where we stopped. The win over 3SC in Aba gave us confidence and momentum, and our target is to maintain that level as the second round begins,” Ukaegbu stated.

Enyimba closed the first stanza of the season in style with that dominant 3–0 victory over 3SC, and the coach believes the team’s recent resurgence, particularly in front of goal both home and away, will be evident again in Ibadan.

The People’s Elephant will be boosted by the return of winger and joint club top scorer from last season, Ekene Awazie, who watched the first-round meeting from the bench but is now primed to make an impact. 

Defensive reinforcement also comes in the form of Elastic Emeka Onyema, who has been certified fit and is expected to bolster the backline including Agu Samuel who scored his first goal for Enyimba against Kwara United before he got injured.

Ukaegbu further noted Enyimba’s historical trend of strong second round performances, expressing confidence that the current campaign will follow a familiar script.

“Enyimba traditionally explodes in the second round, and this season will not be an exception,” he added.

Beyond bragging rights, Wednesday’s encounter carries added significance as Enyimba chase their first away league win since the victory in Yenagoa over Bayelsa United, a result that could reignite their continental ambitions.

History also favours the Aba side. Since 2009, Enyimba FC have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture, recording 11 wins in 23 meetings, compared to 3SC’s five victories, with seven matches ending in draws. Enyimba's last recent visit to Ibadan ended in a draw 

As the league enters its defining phase, all eyes will be on the Lekan Salami Stadium to see whether the People’s Elephant can indeed carry their first-round momentum into the second, or if the Oluyole Warriors will rewrite the script on home soil.