Enyimba moved to the second position in the Nigeria Professional Football League table following a hard fought 2-1 win against Warri Wolves at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.
The champions are now on 30 points, one behind leaders Rivers United but with two games in hand. It was the first time Enyimba head coach, Paul Aigbogun, would be facing his former club. The Peoples Elephant also paraded three former Warri Wolves players in Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, Ike ThankGod and Abu Azeez in their starting line-up, while two others, Musa Najare and Joseph Osadiaye, started on the bench. Wolves coach Ard Sluis made two changes to the side that defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 on matchday 19 with centre- back Semiu Liadi and Shedrack Oguh replacing Obinna Nwokolo and Sikiru Alimi. The hosts started the game on a bright note with Christian Pyagbara scoring the opening goal on 55 seconds. The visitors recovered from the setback and equalized through Oguh in the 39th minute following an error by ThankGod. Enyimba restored their lead in the 72nd minute through Andrew Abalogu who tapped in from close range after goalkeeper Tejiri Rhiogbere spilled Chima Akas’ free kick. Warri Wolves were reduced to 10-men three minutes later after Solomon Okpako was sent off for a poor tackle on Ibenegbu. Akas came close to doubling his side’s lead in the 78th minute but his beautiful freekick hit the woodwork. The Aba giants are now without defeat in their last nine games in the NPFL.