Enyimba International F.C.

Early years

The club was founded as a state-owned club in November 1976 by Jerry Amadi Enyeazu, who was the first Director for Sports in the newly established Imo State, a province in southeast Nigeria. In August 1991, Imo State was divided further and Abia State was created from the part of Imo which included the city of Aba, Enyimba's hometown, so the new state government took over as owners of Enyimba. In the 1970s and 1980s, Enyimba struggled to make a notable impact as the traditional powerhouses such as Enugu Rangers, Shooting Stars, Bendel Insurance and local rivals Iwuanyanwu Nationale dominated Nigerian football. Enyimba's rise to fame began in 1990 when the Professional League was inaugurated. In their first season in the top division, Enyimba finished 13th out of 16 clubs, winning just five out of 30 games with a goal difference 25–36. In the following season, they won eight games but still finished 15th with 36 points, just one point short from escaping relegation behind Stationery Stores, and were relegated to second level for the 1992 season. Enyimba stayed in the second level for the next two seasons before winning promotion in 1993, finishing first with 29 wins out of 46 games, winning a record 96 points with a goal difference of 64–25, with most goals scored and fewest goals conceded in the 24-team league. Back at the top level, their string of good results continued, and they finished the 1994 season third, behind BCC Lions and Shooting Stars,…

Kosta Papić (1998–02) Shaibu Amodu (2002–03) Kadiri Ikhana (2003–04) Michael Urukalo (2004) Okey Emordi (2004–05) Alphonsus Dike (2005–06) Maurice Cooreman (Oct 2006 – 9 Feb) Daniel Amokachi (2008) Augustine Eguavoen (2008–09) Okey Emordi (Aug 2009 – Nov 2011) Abdu Maikaba (Nov 2011– Jan 2016) Paul Aigbogun (Jan 2016 – Jul 2018) Ali Hanteh (Jul 2018 – Jan 2020) Fatai Osho (Jan 2020 – 2021) Finidi George (Sept 2021 – May 2024) Yemi Daniel Olanrewaju (May 2024 – Dec 2024) Stanley Azunda Eguma (Jan 2025 – Nov 2025) Deji Ayeni (Nov 2025 – Jan 2026) Emmanuel Deutsch (Jan 2026– present)

Domestic

Nigerian Premier League Winners (9): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009–10, 2015, 2019, 2023 Nigerian FA Cup Winners (4): 2005, 2009, 2013, 2014 National Second Division Winners (1): 1993 Nigerian Super Cup Winners (4): 2001, 2003, 2010, 2013

Continental

CAF Champions League Winners (2): 2003, 2004 CAF Super Cup Winners (2): 2004, 2005