Enyimba FC
 |
|
| Full name | Enyimba International Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Peoples' Elephant, The Aba Warriors |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Ground |
Enyimba International Stadium Aba, Abia, Nigeria Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt(temp. 2016 season) |
| Capacity | 16,000 |
| Owner | Abia State Government |
| Chairman |
 Felix Anyansi-Agwu
|
| Manager |
Gbenga Ogunbote |
| League | Nigerian Premier League |
| 2016 | 9th |
| Website | Club home page |
Enyimba International Football Club, or simply Enyimba, is a Nigerian football (soccer) club based in the city of Aba which plays in the Nigerian Premier League. Their name means People's Elephant in Igbo language and is also the nickname used for the city of Aba. Founded in 1976, the club rose to prominence in the 2000s and is considered the most successful Nigerian football club as they won two African Champions League titles, six Nigerian championships and four Federation Cups since 2001. The revenue of Enyimba FC is around 10 million euros, making them one of the richest sports clubs in Africa. Enyimba reached 30,000 Facebook followers in 2017.
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 the Abia State was created from the part of Imo which included the city of Aba, Enyimba's hometown, so the new state's 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 then 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 64–25, with most goals scored and fewest goals conceded in the 24-team league.
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