By Simpson Global Media News Desk
Enyimba International finally opened their 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign with a victory, defeating Shooting Stars Sports Club 4–2 in a six-goal encounter at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on Wednesday.
The nine-time Nigerian league champions produced their most productive attacking display of the young season, scoring four times before the visitors managed two late replies.
Richard Ezinna opened the scoring, Damian Chibueze Ezeifule doubled the advantage, Idris Abubakar added a third before half-time and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored Enyimba's fourth shortly after the restart.
Shooting Stars reduced the deficit through Mustapha Adams Agba’a in the 76th minute before Johnmark Aule scored in stoppage time, but the visitors could not prevent Enyimba from collecting all three points.
The match was a rearranged fixture from Matchday 2 of the NPFL season. The official league report confirmed that Enyimba had entered the contest without a victory from their opening fixtures, making Wednesday's result their first three-point haul of the campaign.
The victory came on a busy night of domestic football in Nigeria, with defending champions Rangers International moving to the top of the league table after a 1–0 away victory over Warri Wolves in Ozoro.
Rivers United remained second after drawing 1–1 with Katsina United, while Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City played out a goalless draw in the Lagos derby.
For Enyimba, however, the immediate focus was on a result that ended a difficult opening run and provided a significant attacking boost ahead of the next phase of the season.
A fast start in Aba
Enyimba did not allow the match to settle into a cautious opening.
The home side pressed Shooting Stars from the beginning and were rewarded within the first few minutes.
Richard Ezinna put Enyimba ahead after the hosts forced an error from the Shooting Stars defence.
The official NPFL report records the opening goal in the seventh minute, while other match records list it at approximately the sixth minute. The difference reflects the timing conventions used by different match-data providers, but all the available accounts agree that Ezinna scored early to give Enyimba the lead.
The goal immediately changed the atmosphere inside the Enyimba International Stadium.
Having entered the fixture looking for their first league victory, Enyimba had the start they needed.
Instead of allowing Shooting Stars to establish possession and confidence, the hosts continued to press.
The pressure produced a second goal before the half-hour mark.
Damian Chibueze Ezeifule found the net in the 29th minute with a long-range effort, according to the NPFL's official match report.
The strike gave Enyimba a two-goal cushion and placed the visitors under considerably greater pressure.
Shooting Stars had already been forced to defend against sustained attacking movements, and the second goal meant that their task became one of trying to stay within reach of the hosts before the interval.
Idris Abubakar makes it three
Enyimba did not settle for a two-goal advantage.
Nine minutes before the break, Idris Abubakar scored the third.
The goal gave the hosts a 3–0 lead and effectively placed Enyimba in control of the match before half-time.
The official NPFL account said Enyimba had been aggressive from the outset, pressing high and taking advantage of opportunities when they appeared.
That was a marked change from the team's earlier results, when an inability to convert opportunities had contributed to dropped points.
Enyimba assistant coach Okechukwu Ejeh later acknowledged the improvement in front of goal while also warning that the team still had work to do defensively.
According to the NPFL, Ejeh described the victory as necessary and said the team had been clinical, while also noting that defensive weaknesses remained an area requiring attention.
That assessment is reflected in the final score.
Enyimba created enough attacking opportunities to score four times, but Shooting Stars eventually found the net twice.
The performance therefore offered encouragement in attack while leaving the coaching staff with defensive issues to address.
Ihemekwele adds a fourth
The second half began in much the same manner as the first.
Enyimba extended their advantage only four minutes after the restart.
Ifeanyi Ihemekwele scored the fourth goal after receiving a pass from Wonah William, according to the official NPFL report.
The goal took the score to 4–0 and appeared to put the match beyond the reach of Shooting Stars.
For Ihemekwele, the goal was particularly significant because it came during his first home start in several months.
The NPFL reported that the forward made an impact after returning to the starting line-up and that his goal formed part of a four-goal performance that finally gave Enyimba their first victory of the campaign.
Enyimba's fourth goal also demonstrated the depth of the team's attacking contribution.
Four different players found the net.
Ezinna started the scoring, Ezeifule added the second, Abubakar scored the third and Ihemekwele completed the four-goal sequence.
That distribution suggests that the performance was not dependent on one individual scorer.
Shooting Stars respond late
Despite falling four goals behind, Shooting Stars did not stop competing.
Head coach and technical adviser Salisu Yusuf made several substitutions as the visitors attempted to change the direction of the contest.
The changes eventually produced a response.
Mustapha Adams Agba’a scored in the 76th minute to reduce Enyimba's lead to 4–1.
The goal came too late to alter the overall direction of the game, but it gave Shooting Stars a measure of reward for their efforts after the interval.
They continued to push.
Johnmark Aule then scored in stoppage time to make the score 4–2.
The late goal reduced the margin further, but Enyimba maintained enough control to see out the remaining moments and secure the victory.
The final score therefore reflected two contrasting phases.
Enyimba dominated the first part of the match and established a four-goal advantage.
Shooting Stars showed greater resistance later and scored twice, but the deficit created before that response was too large to overcome.
The first win after a difficult opening
The significance of the result for Enyimba goes beyond the four goals.
The club had experienced a difficult start to the 2026/27 NPFL season.
Before Wednesday's fixture, Enyimba had lost several matches and drawn another, leaving the club still searching for its first victory.
Match records show that the team had lost to Niger Tornadoes, Doma United, Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos, before drawing 0–0 away at Kano Pillars on September 27.
The sequence meant that pressure was building for a positive result.
The 4–2 victory therefore provided more than three points.
It interrupted a run in which Enyimba had struggled to turn performances into victories.
It also gave the club an opportunity to rebuild momentum before the next fixture.
The NPFL confirmed that Enyimba's next league assignment is against Plateau United at the Enyimba Stadium on October 4.
That match will give the team an immediate opportunity to build on the performance against Shooting Stars.
A rearranged Matchday 2 fixture
Wednesday's encounter was not part of the originally completed sequence of fixtures.
It was a rearranged Matchday 2 contest.
The rescheduling allowed Shooting Stars to manage their domestic programme alongside their CAF Confederation Cup commitments, according to reports on the match.
The postponement meant that the two clubs met later than the original Matchday 2 schedule.
By the time the fixture was played, Enyimba had already completed several other league matches.
That gave the encounter a different context from a conventional second-round fixture.
Enyimba entered it needing a result after their earlier setbacks.
Shooting Stars, meanwhile, had already recorded both wins and defeats during the opening weeks of the campaign.
The official NPFL fixture records list the September 30 match as a Matchday 2 fixture, even though it was played after Matchday 6 had been completed.
Enyimba's attacking improvement
The most obvious change from Enyimba's previous results was their efficiency in front of goal.
Before the Shooting Stars match, the club had struggled to translate attacking opportunities into goals.
Ejeh specifically pointed to that issue after the victory.
The assistant coach said Enyimba had previously created opportunities without converting them, including in recent home matches against Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos.
Against Shooting Stars, the situation was different.
Four opportunities were converted into four goals, according to Ejeh's assessment quoted by the NPFL.
The result was an attacking performance that gave Enyimba a substantial advantage before their opponents could establish a sustained response.
That efficiency will be one of the main factors the club will want to preserve in subsequent matches.
However, Ejeh's comments also indicate that the coaching staff does not regard the performance as evidence that every problem has been solved.
The two goals conceded in the final quarter of the game remain relevant.
Defensive concerns remain
Enyimba's four goals attracted most of the attention, but conceding twice after leading 4–0 is another part of the match that will interest the coaching staff.
Shooting Stars were able to score in the 76th minute and again in stoppage time.
The goals did not threaten Enyimba's victory, but they demonstrated that the defensive structure became less secure as the match progressed.
Ejeh acknowledged that concern after the game.
The assistant coach said the team remained a work in progress and specifically referred to the need to stop conceding what he described as cheap goals.
That makes the October 4 meeting with Plateau United an important test of whether Enyimba can combine their improved attacking efficiency with greater defensive control.
Ihemekwele's return
Ihemekwele's contribution is another storyline emerging from the match.
His goal came in his first home start in months, according to the NPFL.
A player returning to the starting line-up after a lengthy period away from regular home starts can face the challenge of rebuilding rhythm and match sharpness.
Against Shooting Stars, Ihemekwele was directly involved in the result.
His goal arrived shortly after the interval and gave Enyimba a four-goal advantage.
The NPFL report described his contribution as part of an overall performance in which Enyimba finally found the clinical edge that had been missing earlier in the campaign.
For the player and coaching staff, the goal may therefore represent more than a statistic.
It provides evidence that Ihemekwele can contribute to the attacking options available to the team as the season progresses.
Shooting Stars' difficult night
For Shooting Stars, the match represented a disappointing result after a mixed opening to the season.
The Ibadan-based side had already recorded victories over Inter Lagos and Katsina United, but had also suffered defeats against Plateau United and Warri Wolves before travelling to Aba.
The 4–2 defeat added another loss to that record.
Match records show Shooting Stars had entered the fixture after losing 1–0 away to Warri Wolves on September 27.
Their next league assignment is scheduled against Nasarawa United on October 4.
That gives Salisu Yusuf and his players limited time to recover from the six-goal defeat and prepare for another domestic fixture.
The late goals against Enyimba will at least provide some evidence of resilience.
However, conceding four goals before managing a response leaves significant defensive questions for the team.
Rangers take advantage at the top
While Enyimba were celebrating their first win, another result changed the top of the NPFL table.
Defending champions Rangers International defeated Warri Wolves 1–0 away in Ozoro.
Godwin Obaje scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the first half.
The victory moved Rangers to the top of the standings, according to the official NPFL report.
The result adds another dimension to the current season.
Rangers are attempting to defend the title they won in the previous campaign, and an early position at the top provides the champions with a strong start to their title defence.
But the league remains in its early stages.
The standings can change rapidly as clubs complete rearranged fixtures and continue through the schedule.
Rivers United remain close
Rivers United also maintained a strong position after drawing 1–1 away at Katsina United.
The match was goalless at half-time.
Rivers United then took the lead through Samson Olasupo two minutes after the restart before Sani Mubarak equalised for Katsina United three minutes later.
The points were shared.
The result left Rivers United in second place behind Rangers, according to the NPFL's post-match review.
The early standings therefore contain several clubs separated by relatively small margins.
For Enyimba, the immediate objective will not necessarily be to focus on the teams at the top after one victory.
The priority is to establish consistency.
A team that has collected its first three points after a difficult opening needs to follow that result with additional positive performances if it is to move significantly up the table.
Lagos derby ends without a goal
The same Wednesday programme also produced a goalless draw between Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City.
The local rivals met at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock.
The 0–0 scoreline contrasted sharply with the six goals scored in Aba.
It also showed the different ways in which NPFL matches can develop.
While Enyimba and Shooting Stars produced an open contest with six goals, Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City cancelled each other out.
The result gave both Lagos clubs a point.
A competitive opening to the NPFL season
The latest results point to a league season already producing contrasting storylines.
The defending champions have moved to the top.
Rivers United remain among the leading teams.
Enyimba, one of the country's most successful clubs, have had to wait until their sixth completed appearance to record their first victory.
Shooting Stars have experienced both victories and defeats.
Lagos has also produced a derby without a goal.
Such results illustrate the uncertainty that accompanies the early stages of a league campaign.
Teams are still establishing combinations, integrating players and adjusting to the demands of the season.
For Enyimba, the timing of the 4–2 victory could prove important because the club now has an opportunity to build confidence before another home fixture.
The significance of four different scorers
One of the encouraging aspects of the victory is the range of goalscorers.
Ezinna, Ezeifule, Abubakar and Ihemekwele all contributed.
That gives Enyimba a broader attacking profile.
When several players are capable of scoring, opponents have more threats to account for.
The first goal came from pressing.
The second came through a long-range effort.
The third resulted from sustained attacking pressure before half-time.
The fourth followed a pass into Ihemekwele.
The different nature of the goals demonstrates that Enyimba were not dependent on one particular type of attacking move.
That variety may become important as opponents study the team and seek ways to prevent another four-goal performance.
The importance of home form
The result was also significant because it came at Enyimba's home stadium.
Home fixtures are traditionally important in league campaigns because teams are expected to maximise points in familiar surroundings.
Enyimba had not done that consistently in the opening weeks.
The club had suffered a 2–3 defeat against Sporting Lagos at home on September 23 and a 0–1 defeat against Inter Lagos on September 20, according to match records.
The victory over Shooting Stars therefore ended a sequence of disappointing home results.
It also restored some of the atmosphere that comes with a convincing home performance.
The next home match against Plateau United provides another opportunity.
If Enyimba can produce another positive result at the same stadium, the Shooting Stars victory would begin to look less like an isolated improvement and more like the start of a recovery.
What the coaching staff will be watching
The technical staff now faces a balancing act.
The attacking performance provides reasons for encouragement.
But the defensive concessions require attention.
Ejeh's comments after the match indicate that the coaching team is aware of both sides of the performance.
The objective will be to retain the intensity and efficiency displayed in the opening stages while reducing the spaces that allowed Shooting Stars to score twice.
The coaching staff will also have to manage player fitness and selection as the schedule continues.
Enyimba are due to play Plateau United on October 4, only four days after the Shooting Stars match.
That short interval means there will be limited time for recovery and tactical preparation.
The Plateau United test
Plateau United will provide a different challenge.
The Jos-based side are among the established clubs in Nigerian domestic football and will arrive with their own tactical approach.
Enyimba's coaching staff will have to determine whether to maintain the same attacking personnel that started against Shooting Stars or make changes.
The answer will depend on fitness, tactical considerations and the condition of individual players.
What is clear is that Enyimba cannot assume the next match will follow the same pattern.
A four-goal first half or four-goal winning margin cannot be treated as a guarantee of future results.
The NPFL is a long competition, and consistency over many rounds is what ultimately determines a club's position.
A result that changes the immediate mood
The 4–2 victory does, however, change the immediate narrative around Enyimba.
Before Wednesday, the club's season had been defined by a sequence of defeats and a draw.
After Wednesday, there is finally a victory to place alongside those earlier results.
That matters for players, coaches and supporters.
Winning can also provide the basis for more confidence in training and preparation.
The challenge is to turn that confidence into repeatable performances.
Ejeh's comments suggest the technical staff understands that the work is not finished.
The assistant coach described the team as still being a work in progress and specifically identified defensive improvement as a priority.
The broader NPFL picture
The result also adds to an increasingly interesting early NPFL campaign.
The league contains clubs with long histories, newly emerging sides and teams seeking to challenge established powers.
Enyimba's own history places significant expectations on the club.
The People's Elephant have won the Nigerian league nine times, according to the official NPFL report.
Their domestic success also includes continental achievements, and the club remains one of the most recognised names in Nigerian football.
That history means individual seasons are often judged against a high standard.
The current campaign, however, is still in its early stages.
One victory does not determine the final direction of the season, just as a difficult opening does not by itself decide how a team will finish.
The value of patience in a long season
The early NPFL calendar can produce unusual league positions because of postponed matches and rearranged fixtures.
Wednesday's Enyimba-Shooting Stars match itself was a delayed Matchday 2 fixture.
That means teams may have played different numbers of matches at particular points in the season.
The official fixture list confirms that the Enyimba-Shooting Stars meeting was recorded as Matchday 2 even though it took place after several Matchday 6 fixtures.
This is one reason early table positions should be considered in the context of games played.
As postponed matches are completed, the standings will become more representative of the competitive picture.
Enyimba's next opportunity
Enyimba now have a clear target: Plateau United.
The match is scheduled for October 4 at the Enyimba Stadium.
The club will enter that fixture with a first victory already secured and with an attacking performance that demonstrated what the team can produce when chances are converted.
The technical challenge will be maintaining that standard.
If the team can score regularly while tightening its defensive organisation, the result against Shooting Stars could become an important turning point.
If defensive weaknesses continue, however, the four-goal performance will not by itself solve the problems that contributed to the earlier results.
That is the balance facing the coaching staff.
Shooting Stars must respond
Shooting Stars face their own immediate test.
Their next listed league fixture is against Nasarawa United on October 4.
The club will need to recover quickly from the defeat in Aba.
The two late goals demonstrate that the players were able to respond after falling four goals behind, but the team will need a more complete performance if it is to collect points in the next round.
Defensive organisation will be a major area of attention after conceding four goals.
The ability to prevent opponents from establishing such a large early advantage will also be important.
The season moves on
The NPFL does not allow much time for teams to dwell on individual results.
Matchday 7 fixtures are due to continue this weekend, with clubs quickly moving from one assignment to another.
The official league review confirmed that the competition resumes with the next round after Wednesday's rearranged fixtures.
For Enyimba, the priority is therefore straightforward: recover, prepare and attempt to produce another strong performance.
For Shooting Stars, the objective is to correct the problems exposed in Aba and respond in their next match.
For Rangers, the task is to defend the position they have taken at the top.
For Rivers United and the other clubs around the leading positions, every point will continue to matter.
A six-goal night in Aba
The Enyimba-Shooting Stars encounter ultimately provided one of the most eventful matches of the latest NPFL round.
Four goals from the home team established the result.
Two late goals from the visitors gave the final score a more competitive appearance.
Ezinna, Ezeifule, Abubakar and Ihemekwele supplied the goals for Enyimba, while Agba’a and Aule scored for Shooting Stars.
For the home side, the 4–2 scoreline represented its first victory of the season.
For the visitors, it represented a defeat that nevertheless contained a late response.
And for the league as a whole, the result contributed to an increasingly active opening period in which established clubs, title holders and challengers are beginning to define their positions.
What the result means for Enyimba
The most immediate consequence is three points.
The second is confidence.
The third is evidence that Enyimba can produce goals in numbers.
But the fourth is a reminder that there is still work to do.
The two goals conceded after taking a four-goal lead will remain relevant to the coaching staff.
The team will therefore have to build on the positive aspects without overlooking the weaknesses.
The next match against Plateau United will provide the first opportunity to test whether the lessons from Aba have been absorbed.
The road ahead
As the 2026/27 NPFL season progresses, Enyimba will need more than individual moments of attacking brilliance.
They will need consistency.
The club's opening results demonstrate how quickly a season can become difficult when points are dropped in successive matches.
Wednesday's victory has stopped that immediate slide, but the larger campaign remains ahead.
The next several fixtures will show whether the result represents a temporary lift or the beginning of a more sustained improvement.
The same applies to Shooting Stars.
The club has already shown that it can win matches this season, but the 4–2 loss demonstrates the danger of allowing opponents to establish a large lead.
A fresh starting point
For Enyimba, the significance of Wednesday's victory is therefore best understood as a fresh starting point.
The club began the season without a win.
It now has one.
The attack produced four goals.
Four different players scored.
A player making his first home start in months found the net.
The coaching staff has identified defensive improvement as an area requiring attention.
And another home fixture is already on the calendar.
Those facts give Enyimba a clear platform from which to continue the season.
The club will now have to turn that platform into sustained results.
The 4–2 victory over Shooting Stars has changed the immediate picture, but it has not settled the season.
With Rangers leading the standings, Rivers United close behind and the rest of the league continuing to accumulate points, the competition is only beginning to take shape.
For Enyimba, the message from Aba is clear: the first win has arrived, the attack has shown its potential, and the next challenge is to make the improvement last.
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