Enyimba’s Head Coach, Stanley Eguma, has promised the team’s fans that the People’s Elephant will correct the mistakes that cost them success on all fronts last season. Specifically, Eguma promised that the former African champions will either win the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title or at least do enough to qualify to return to the continent.
Last season, Enyimba were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup in the group stage and failed to rank among the first three teams in the NPFL, while they lost in the quarterfinals of the President’s Federation Cup to Second Division side, Abakiliki FC.
Eguma led the record nine-time league winners to a modest sixth-place finish in the NPFL, having joined in December when the team was in 11th position last season.
However, the veteran tactician, who won two league titles with his former side, Rivers United, understands the need to improve this term in an ambitious side like Enyimba.
Eguma told Enyimba media: “Enyimba as a team have a target, and as a coach, an ambitious one at that, I equally have a target. And my target should be to win the league or pick a continental ticket, at worst.
Having achieved that in the past, I think I should be looking at something that will surpass my achievement. And that is what the Club is looking to achieve as well. Remember, we’re nine-time champions of the NPFL and two-time African champions. I think anything short of that would not be a good achievement.
“So, the club are also looking at surpassing their previous performance. Of course, we have to achieve that collectively. That’s the target that I have. Before the management sets a target for me, I’ve already set one for myself, because I’m very ambitious, and I feel I have a lot to offer.”
In addition to winning two league titles with Rivers United in the past, the experienced gaffer also won the Federation Cup with the Port Harcourt side in 2001 when they were known as Dolphins. Eguma was Okey Emordi’s assistant when Enyimba retained the CAF Champions League back in 2004.
The People’s Elephant will face newly-promoted Kano-based Barau FC in their opening game of 2025/26 season.
