State rivals lock horns in evenly matched encounter as season intensifies.
In a tightly contested encounter in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 12 clash, Enyimba International FC of Aba salvaged a hard-fought 0-0 draw away at neighbours Abia Warriors FC at the Umuahia Township Stadium. The meeting; one of the standout “Oriental Derby” fixtures in the league calendar — saw both sides deploy tactical discipline and defensive solidity.
Enyimba’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, described the duel as “a highly tactical game,” emphasising that the result was a decent outcome given the quality of the home side. “It was generally a good game; the two teams played a high tactical game. We are happy to have got the draw although we planned for the maximum points, but we met a stubborn side in Abia Warriors,” he said after the match.
Despite chasing the win, Enyimba’s travelling contingent brought a strong presence to Umuahia, a reminder of the fervour that this state derby carries. Abia Warriors, resolute on home turf, frustrated the visitors’ attacking forays and ensured their unbeaten run at home remained intact for the day.
From a league-perspective, the point lifts Enyimba closer to the top six, keeping their push for continental qualification alive.
Meanwhile, for Abia Warriors, the draw means they maintain their competitive momentum and can take positives from their defensive performance. Eguma was quick to praise his players for sticking to the game-plan and showing discipline. “Our opponents are a good side, no doubt, and my boys played according to our game plan. We will continue to build on the progress in our subsequent games,” he noted.
What stood out in the match was the lack of a goal despite chances for both teams. Enyimba forwards such as Edidiong Ezekiel, Kalu Nweke and Joseph Atule were active in attack, but were repeatedly thwarted by Abia Warriors’ solid defending and goalkeeping. The statistics also reveal a longstanding dominance by Enyimba in this fixture: out of 19 head-to-head matches, Abia Warriors have just 3 wins compared to Enyimba’s 12.
While the points were shared, both sides now shift focus quickly: Enyimba host Wikki Tourists next, while Abia Warriors travel to face Bayelsa United. Momentum from this draw could matter.
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