In a thrilling encounter that lived up to the hype of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), El-Kanemi Warriors secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Enyimba International FC at the El-Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri.
The Round 18 fixture, played on Sunday, December 21, 2025, showcased high-intensity football as the “Warriors” defended their home turf against the “People’s Elephant.”
Match Highlights
The game was characterized by swift counter-attacks and clinical finishing. El-Kanemi Warriors took control early, establishing a lead that Enyimba struggled to overturn despite a spirited second-half performance.
Early Dominance: El-Kanemi opened the scoring in the 29th minute through D. Abdulrahman, setting the tone for the afternoon.
The Emmanuel Show: Jonas Emmanuel proved to be the match-winner, finding the net twice. He doubled the lead in the 37th minute and added a crucial third goal early in the second half (52nd minute).
Enyimba’s Fightback: Enyimba did not go down without a fight. M. Hussaini gave the visitors hope by pulling one back just before halftime (43rd minute), making it 2-1. While they managed to find the net again to bring the score to 3-2, the Maiduguri-based side held firm to claim all three points.
The match was a clash of styles, with El-Kanemi utilizing their home advantage to press high and disrupt Enyimba’s buildup play.
El-Kanemi Warriors High efficiency in front of goal; strong defensive organization in the final 15 minutes.
Enyimba FC Dominant in possession during the second half but lacked the final touch to equalize.
This result serves as a significant boost for El-Kanemi Warriors as they look to climb away from the lower half of the standings. For Enyimba, the loss is a setback in their pursuit of the top spots, highlighting some defensive vulnerabilities that coach Ukaegbu will likely look to address before the next matchday.
“We knew it would be a tough battle in Maiduguri. While we showed character to fight back, you cannot afford to concede three goals and expect an easy result,” noted a team representative following the whistle.
With the NPFL season reaching its midway point, every point is becoming crucial for continental qualification and league survival alike.
This video provides broader context on the current NPFL season’s competitive landscape, featuring highlights and analysis of other key matches from the same period.
