The Enyimba International Football Club of Aba have emerged the new champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2022/2023 season.
The Peoples Elephant achieved this feat Sunday night after a 1-1 draw with Rivers United in their last match of the NPFL Super 6 tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena Lagos.
Enyimba last won the league in 2019. But with ex-Nigeria international, Finidi George, becoming head coach since September 2021, the 2022/2023 season has ended with huge success for the darling team of Abia.
Enyimba and Rivers United went into the last match with eight points each but with the Aba-based club occupying the top spot on goal difference, hence it was a winner-takes- all encounter.
The Peoples Elephant signalled their intention to dethrone the reigning champions when they took the lead 39 minutes into the first half through a strike by Ekene Awazie.
Meanwhile, Rivers United needed an outright victory to retain their crown and three minutes into the second half, Nyima Nekabari Nwagua drew them level.
With their hope raised after the equaliser, the Pride of Rivers tried hard to outscore their opponents to no avail as the Peoples Elephant had answer to every trick they came up with.
The Finidi George tutored Aba Elephants knew that a draw would be enough for them to win their first league title in four years and they held on to emerge victorious.
For Rivers United the draw was a double jeopardy as they were dethroned by Enyimba while Remo Stars secured the second position thereby knocking the Pride of Rivers out of the CAF Champions League slot.
Remo Stars defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0 in the other match of the day to finish level with Enyimba on nine points but the superior goal difference of the Peoples Elephant guaranteed them the number one position.
By winning the 2022/2023 NPFL crown Enyimba earned the N100 million prize money in addition to leading Nigeria’s charge in the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League.
Remo Stars which finished second would join Enyimba in the CAF Champions League while Rivers United would compete in the CAF Confederations Cup having placed third.