Enyimba International F.C. season 2003
Encyclopedia
The Nigeria
n football (soccer)
club Enyimba
won the 2003 African Champions League title, beating Ismaily SC
of Egypt
.
In the first round on April 13, 2003, Enyimba defeated Satellite FC
of Guinea
, winning 3-0 in Aba. In the second leg in Conakry
, Enyimba thrashed the Guineans 5-2. The Peoples' Elephant won the tie 8-2 on aggregate.
The second round match held on the 18th of May in Aba against ASC Jeanne d'Arc
of Senegal
ended 4-0 to Enyimba. The second leg at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar
ended goalless as the Senegalese failed to score. Enyimba therefore qualified for the group state of the competition with a 4-0 aggregate victory.
After the draw for the group stage in Cairo, Egypt, Enyimba was drawn in group A with Simba FC
of Tanzania
, ASEC Mimosas
of Côte d'Ivoire
and Ismaily of Egypt
.
In the first group match in Aba, Enyimba beat Simba 3-0. This victory sent a wrong signal to both players and officials who perhaps thought that the team had indeed arrived. This was not to be, as the Peoples Elephant received the greatest defeat in their history; a 6-1 demolition against Ismali in Ismailia
, Egypt
.
This loss turned out to be the tonic the club needed. Enyimba at the end of the day qualified for the semi-final of the competition beating ASEC Mimosa 3-1 in Aba and 2-0 in Abidjan
. They lost to Simba 1-2 but defeated Ismaili with a 4-2 victory in Aba.
Enyimba thus topped the group with 12 points after 6 matches, while Ismaili came second with 11 points.
In the Semi-finals, Enyimba held Union Sportive de la Medina
of Algeria
to a 1-1 draw in Algiers and in the return leg the Algerians nearly upstaged The Peoples' Elephant as they opened the scoring in the 5th minute of the game. However, Enyimba equalized before the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Algerians held on until the 85th minute when Michael Ochei, who equalized in the first leg again came to the rescue with the much needed goal to crush the stubborn USMA team.
This victory set up the final with the same Ismaily who also qualified for the finals. In the first leg played in Aba, the People's Elephant triumphed against the Egyptians with a 2-0 victory.
The second leg perhaps looked easy for the Egyptians who felt they would re-enact the 6-1 demolition of the quarter-final. But they were in for the greatest shock of their lives as the Kadiri Ikhana
-touted side lost to the Egyptians by a lone goal through a controversial penalty. Enyimba emerged victorious with a 2-1 aggregate and Captain Romanus Orjinta
lifted the trophy to high heavens.
This defeat was to the Egyptians, unacceptable and the Egyptian media were so disappointed that they went as far as going off air in the live television coverage, thereby preventing the entire Africa and the rest of the world from watching the cup presentation.
Enyimba players and their hundreds of supporters who came in chartered planes were held at the Ismailia stadium for over three hours after the match on the advice of the Egyptian police who first cleared the fans who had laid ambush outside the stadium waiting to attack the new African champions.
Back home in Nigeria, the entire nation went wild with jubilation as everybody, irrespective of their club affiliation were ectstatic. To them Nigeria had won.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo honored the golden boys of Enyimba with a state banquet.
Back home in Aba and Abia state, the club financier and state Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
declared a public holiday in honor of The Peoples Elephant. In appreciation of the promise he made to the players and officials, a grand reception was organized while the team, in a carnival went round the entire state to have personal contact with their fans.
The Governor gave out one Kia
Car to each player and official while the Club Chairman; Felix Anyansi Agwu got a Jeep.
of Tunisia
in the finals in Abuja
. This was after defeating the same Tunisians’ in February in the Champion of Champions (Super Cup).
Both legs had ended 2-1 and in the ensuring penalty shootout, Enyimba's reserve Goalkeeper; Dele Aiyenugba came in as a last minute substitute and saved two penalties. Dele had earlier in the Semi-final match against Esperance, also of Tunisia secured victory for Enyimba through another penalty shoot out. Dele Aiyenugba thus became a household name in the country.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club Enyimba
Enyimba
Enyimba International Football Club, or simply Enyimba, is a Nigerian football 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...
won the 2003 African Champions League title, beating Ismaily SC
Ismaily SC
The Ismaily Sporting Club is a club, established in 1924 as Nahda Sporting Club, based in Ismaïlia, Egypt. The club is best known for its football team....
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
In the first round on April 13, 2003, Enyimba defeated Satellite FC
Satellite FC
Satellite Football Club is a Guinean football club based in Conakry. Their home games are played at Stade 28 Septembre.- Current squad :-Achievements:*Guinée Championnat National: 2*Guinée Coupe Nationale: 2...
of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, winning 3-0 in Aba. In the second leg in Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, Enyimba thrashed the Guineans 5-2. The Peoples' Elephant won the tie 8-2 on aggregate.
The second round match held on the 18th of May in Aba against ASC Jeanne d'Arc
ASC Jeanne d'Arc
ASC Jeanne d'Arc is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1921. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor.-Achievements:*Senegal Premier League: 10...
of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ended 4-0 to Enyimba. The second leg at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
ended goalless as the Senegalese failed to score. Enyimba therefore qualified for the group state of the competition with a 4-0 aggregate victory.
After the draw for the group stage in Cairo, Egypt, Enyimba was drawn in group A with Simba FC
Simba FC
Simba FC is a Ugandan football club based in Lugazi. They are the country's Army club. They were a dominant force in the 1970s and 1980s when all the players were serving officers in the Army.-Achievements:*African Cup of Champions Clubs: 0...
of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, ASEC Mimosas
ASEC Mimosas
The Académie Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. The club is also known as ASEC Mimosas Abidjan and ASEC Abidjan, especially in international club competitions. Founded in 1948, they are the most successful side in Ivorian football, having won...
of Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
and Ismaily of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
In the first group match in Aba, Enyimba beat Simba 3-0. This victory sent a wrong signal to both players and officials who perhaps thought that the team had indeed arrived. This was not to be, as the Peoples Elephant received the greatest defeat in their history; a 6-1 demolition against Ismali in Ismailia
Ismaïlia
-Notable natives:*Osman Ahmed Osman, a famous and influential Egyptian engineer, contractor, entrepreneur, and politician, was born in this town on 6 April 1917....
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
This loss turned out to be the tonic the club needed. Enyimba at the end of the day qualified for the semi-final of the competition beating ASEC Mimosa 3-1 in Aba and 2-0 in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
. They lost to Simba 1-2 but defeated Ismaili with a 4-2 victory in Aba.
Enyimba thus topped the group with 12 points after 6 matches, while Ismaili came second with 11 points.
In the Semi-finals, Enyimba held Union Sportive de la Medina
USM Alger
Union Sportive Médina d'Alger, , known as USM Alger or simply USMA for short, is an football club based in the city of Algiers. The club was founded in 1937 and its colours are red and black. Their venue, the Stade Omar Hammadi, has a capacity of some 10,000...
of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
to a 1-1 draw in Algiers and in the return leg the Algerians nearly upstaged The Peoples' Elephant as they opened the scoring in the 5th minute of the game. However, Enyimba equalized before the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Algerians held on until the 85th minute when Michael Ochei, who equalized in the first leg again came to the rescue with the much needed goal to crush the stubborn USMA team.
This victory set up the final with the same Ismaily who also qualified for the finals. In the first leg played in Aba, the People's Elephant triumphed against the Egyptians with a 2-0 victory.
The second leg perhaps looked easy for the Egyptians who felt they would re-enact the 6-1 demolition of the quarter-final. But they were in for the greatest shock of their lives as the Kadiri Ikhana
Kadiri Ikhana
Kadiri Ikhana is a Nigerian football coach. He resigned from his position at Kano Pillars on 27 May 2008, citing corruption in the game. He had led Kano Pillars to their first ever league title a day earlier...
-touted side lost to the Egyptians by a lone goal through a controversial penalty. Enyimba emerged victorious with a 2-1 aggregate and Captain Romanus Orjinta
Romanus Orjinta
Romanus Orjinta is a Nigerian Midfielder who currently played for Niger Tornadoes F.C..-Career:In 2003 he was the captain from Enyimba International F.C. before transferred to Lillestrøm SK. On 26 August 2008 former Nigerian International, Romanus Orjinta, is set to resurrect his career with Niger...
lifted the trophy to high heavens.
This defeat was to the Egyptians, unacceptable and the Egyptian media were so disappointed that they went as far as going off air in the live television coverage, thereby preventing the entire Africa and the rest of the world from watching the cup presentation.
Enyimba players and their hundreds of supporters who came in chartered planes were held at the Ismailia stadium for over three hours after the match on the advice of the Egyptian police who first cleared the fans who had laid ambush outside the stadium waiting to attack the new African champions.
Back home in Nigeria, the entire nation went wild with jubilation as everybody, irrespective of their club affiliation were ectstatic. To them Nigeria had won.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo honored the golden boys of Enyimba with a state banquet.
Back home in Aba and Abia state, the club financier and state Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu was the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Prior to his election as governor he was Chairman of the Borno Water Board and of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited...
declared a public holiday in honor of The Peoples Elephant. In appreciation of the promise he made to the players and officials, a grand reception was organized while the team, in a carnival went round the entire state to have personal contact with their fans.
The Governor gave out one Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
Car to each player and official while the Club Chairman; Felix Anyansi Agwu got a Jeep.
Squad
- Dele AiyenugbaDele AiyenugbaBamidele Mathew Aiyenugba is a Nigerian football player currently with Bnei Yehuda of Israel. He was brought in as a replacement for compatriot, Vincent Enyeama, who was sold to Hapoel Tel Aviv. His name, Bamidele, means "Follow me home".- External links :* *...
- Ndidi Anumunu
- Vincent EnyeamaVincent EnyeamaVincent Enyeama is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. Since 2002, he has played for the national team of Nigeria. He currently plays for Lille, who he signed for in June 2011.-Club career:...
- Victor EzejiVictor EzejiVictor Ezeji in Rivers State) is a Nigerian football striker currently playing for Sharks F.C.-External links:*...
- Ekene Ezenwa
- Eric Facindo
- Joetex Frimpong
- Ahmed GarbaAhmed GarbaAhmed Yaro Yaro Garba is a football striker.-Career:Garba currently plays in the Nigerian Premier League for Kano Pillars F.C..He was also a member of the Nigeria national football team at the 1998 Carlsberg Cup....
- Yusuf MohamedYusuf MohamedYusuf Mohamed is a Nigerian football defender. He currently plays as a right-back for Al-Hilal, and is an important defender for the club.- Career :...
- Abubakar MusaAbubakar MusaAlhaji Abubakar Musa is a Nigerian politician who was elected on the National Republican Convention platform as Governor of Kebbi State, Nigeria, holding office between January 1992 and November 1983 during the Nigerian Third Republic....
- Obinna NwaneriObinna NwaneriObinna Nwaneri is a football defender from Nigeria. His name, Obinna, means "Father´s heart" in Igbo. He is described as mobile central defender with pace, control and timing. A natural leader, which had earned him the captain armband in Enyimba and FC Sion respectively...
- Michael Ochei
- Mouritala OgunbiyiMouritala OgunbiyiMouritala Ogunbiyi is a Nigeria-born, Beninese football midfielder. He currently plays in France for Nîmes Olympique....
- Seyi Ogunsanya
- Onyekachi OkonkwoOnyekachi OkonkwoOnyekachi Donatus Okonkwo or Simply Tico is a Nigerian football midfielder. His name, Onyekachi, means "Who is greater than his godly guarding?".-Club career:...
- Uga Okpara
- Ajibade OmoladeAjibade OmoladeAjibade Aji Omolade is a Nigerian footballer. He currently plays for Plateau United.-Career:Omolade began his career with El-Kanemi Warriors and moved in 2002 to Enyimba International F.C., who was called as Captain. With the team he twice won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004. In July...
- Romanus OrjintaRomanus OrjintaRomanus Orjinta is a Nigerian Midfielder who currently played for Niger Tornadoes F.C..-Career:In 2003 he was the captain from Enyimba International F.C. before transferred to Lillestrøm SK. On 26 August 2008 former Nigerian International, Romanus Orjinta, is set to resurrect his career with Niger...
- David TyavkaseDavid TyavkaseDavid Terzungwe Tyavkase is a Nigerian football player currently with Enyimba.- Career :Tyavkase began his career with Enyimba and in July 2007 joined Lobi Stars. After a two year spell, he returned on 12 February 2009 to Enyimba.- Position :He is offensive allrounder, can play as Striker or...
- Kadiri IkhanaKadiri IkhanaKadiri Ikhana is a Nigerian football coach. He resigned from his position at Kano Pillars on 27 May 2008, citing corruption in the game. He had led Kano Pillars to their first ever league title a day earlier...
(Manager)
Next season
While many thought the victory of Enyimba was a flash in the pan, the club re-enacted the victory in 2004, beating Etoile Sportive Du SahelÉtoile Sportive du Sahel
The Étoile Sportive du Sahel is a sports club from Sousse in the Sahel region of Tunisia, known primarily for its football team. The club also has sections for handball, volleyball, basketball, judo and wrestling...
of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
in the finals in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
. This was after defeating the same Tunisians’ in February in the Champion of Champions (Super Cup).
Both legs had ended 2-1 and in the ensuring penalty shootout, Enyimba's reserve Goalkeeper; Dele Aiyenugba came in as a last minute substitute and saved two penalties. Dele had earlier in the Semi-final match against Esperance, also of Tunisia secured victory for Enyimba through another penalty shoot out. Dele Aiyenugba thus became a household name in the country.