Warri Wolves head coach Hassan Abdallah has praised his players’ discipline and tactical execution after the club secured a crucial 2–1 victory over Enyimba, a result that not only boosted Wolves’ survival hopes but also deepened the crisis surrounding Nigeria’s most decorated club.

The Matchday 29 clash of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the Southern Delta University Stadium in Ozoro, Delta State, saw Warri Wolves grind out a hard-fought win that lifted the team further away from relegation danger.

Abdallah, speaking after the game, commended his squad for sticking to instructions and delivering the result he had long anticipated.

“I have been looking forward to this game since I took charge of the club. I thank my players for their perseverance, discipline and also playing to my instructions. We had a plan for this game and it was executed brilliantly,” the coach said.

Beyond survival, Abdallah has now set his sights on a surprisingly ambitious target for the remainder of the campaign — a top-four finish that could place the Delta-based side in continental contention.

“My target for the rest of the season is to finish in the top four. We are just seven points away from Abia Warriors in fourth place and we believe it’s achievable,” he added.

Warri Wolves currently sit ninth on the NPFL table with 39 points from 29 matches, a position that keeps them within striking distance of the upper tier of the league standings.

However, the result has intensified the growing turmoil surrounding Enyimba, who have slipped into the relegation zone for the first time in 26 years.

The Aba giants now occupy 17th position with 33 points from 29 matches, raising serious questions about the club’s form and stability this season.

Both teams entered the encounter on similar momentum. Enyimba had fought back to secure a valuable point in Aba against newly promoted Kun Khalifat, while Warri Wolves had also picked up a credible 0–0 away draw against Niger Tornadoes, earning their 14th point on the road this season.

Despite those results, Enyimba’s inability to convert opportunities into victories has continued to haunt the club, leaving them dangerously close to an unthinkable relegation battle.

Looking ahead, Enyimba will return to Aba for a crucial fixture against Plateau United, a match that could prove decisive in their fight to escape the drop zone.

Warri Wolves, meanwhile, will travel to Yenagoa to face Bayelsa United in what promises to be a fiercely contested South-South derby, as Abdallah’s side attempt to maintain their upward momentum and keep their top-four ambitions alive.