Aba, Nigeria – August 24, 2025
Enyimba Football Club chairman and two-time African Player of the Year, Nwankwo Kanu, has reaffirmed the club’s ambition to challenge for honours as they begin their 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign today against newly promoted Barau FC.
The People’s Elephant, who finished sixth in last season’s NPFL with 55 points, missed out on continental qualification and will be aiming for a stronger showing this term. This marks Kanu’s third consecutive season at the helm of the Aba-based giants.
“We have revamped this team for one purpose – to win. Every player, new or old, has to give their best in every game because when the club shines, it also reflects positively on your own career and personal glory,” Kanu said in a rallying call to his squad.
Barau FC, making their top-flight debut after gaining promotion through the NNL Super 8 playoffs in July 2025, will be seeking to make a statement against Nigeria’s most decorated club. The newcomers, who have adopted the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano as their temporary home ground, face a stern test against the record nine-time NPFL champions.
The 2025/26 NPFL season officially kicked off on August 22 and is scheduled to run through May 24, 2026. Enyimba’s opener against Barau in Aba stands out as one of the key fixtures of Matchday 1, as fans watch to see if Kanu’s rebuilding project can deliver immediate results.
