It is just match-day 5 of the Nigeria Premier Football League, but there is already pressure on Enyimba. The nine-time champions face another tough match against Sporting Lagos at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba on Wednesday.
The People’s Elephant has had a terrible start to the 2026/27 season. They have lost all three of their matches and sit at the bottom of the NPFL table as the only team without a point.
It is fair to say it has been a very tough beginning for Emmanuel Deutsch and his team. They have scored just once and conceded five goals in their first three matches.
Their latest loss came at home against another Lagos team, Inter Lagos, who shocked the Aba giants over the weekend. This defeat has left the fans questioning the future of a team that has ruled Nigerian football for many years.
Enyimba Needs to Avoid Bad History
Even though the league is still new, the People’s Elephant is deep in the relegation zone. They are looking at their worst start in the top flight, having not won after three matches.
The last time Enyimba went through their first three league games without a win was in the 2000/01 season. They had one draw and two defeats that year.
They lost 1-0 to Gombe United away, suffered a 2-1 defeat at Lobi Stars, and drew 1-1 at home against Rangers International.
They also began the 1999 season without a win in their first four matches, with two draws and two defeats. Enyimba started that year with a 0-0 home draw against Gabros, followed by a 1-1 draw away to Kwara Stars. They then lost 1-0 at home to Plateau United and again by the same score to Kano Pillars on matchday four.
Deutsch and his players are eager to make sure history does not repeat itself. They can find hope in their last meeting with Sporting Lagos, where Enyimba won 2-0 thanks to goals from Ekwutoziam Eze and Elijah Akanni.
A win against the Lagos team could mean more than just three points. It could give Enyimba the confidence and momentum to start moving away from the bottom.
Sporting Lagos Also Faces Challenges
Sporting Lagos has also had an up-and-down return to the top flight, but they do have a big highlight. The “Noisy Lagosians” achieved a fantastic result when they defeated city rivals Inter Lagos 3-0.
However, that great performance was followed by a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Abia Warriors over the weekend. This leaves the Lagos team with little room for mistakes as they head to Aba.
Their season began with a 2-0 loss to Doma United. This means that Wednesday’s match is a chance for both teams to regain their footing.
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