2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 15: Enyimba Star Issues Rallying Cry Ahead of Fierce Oriental Derby

Posted : 29 November 2025

The city of Aba is already buzzing with derby fever as Enyimba prepare to host long-time rivals Rangers International at the Enyimba International Stadium for a high-stakes NPFL Match Day 15 clash.

For years, the Oriental Derby has been the defining spectacle of Nigerian club football — a contest that transcends points and league positions. It embodies football, history, and pride, all packed into 90 minutes of intensity.

Enyimba enter the encounter with a historical edge, winning 9 of their last 18 meetings with Rangers, who have claimed just 3 victories, with the remainder ending in fiercely contested draws. This edition of the rivalry gains extra intrigue with former Rangers and Heartland striker Kingsley Maduforo, popularly known as ‘Shiba’, now leading the line for Enyimba.

After Saturday’s final training session, Shiba sent a firm message to fans and his former teammates:

“Come Sunday we are up against Rangers International and it will be a sweet game. When two brothers fight, it’s always interesting.”

He also highlighted the team’s determination to bounce back from last week’s narrow defeat to Katsina United:

“We have gone back to correct our lapses and push for the maximum points. I’m excited about the encounter and ready to give my best if selected.”

Shiba further emphasized the club’s long-term ambition:

“We will keep pushing for that continental ticket. The league is a marathon.”

Interim coach Lawrence Ukaegbu will welcome back Joseph Atule and Nwaorisa Onyebuchi, with Enyimba aiming to reproduce the assertive form that saw them triumph in the Ifeanyi Ekwueme TICO-SELECT Tournament earlier this season — a tournament they won in Enugu, the home of their rivals.

Sunday’s showdown promises another electric chapter in a rivalry steeped in identity and dominance. For both sides, it is more than three points; it is about supremacy. The drums will beat, the fans will fill the stands, and Aba will once again witness the passion, intensity, and tradition of the Oriental Derby.

Head-to-Head Record:

27/04/2025: Enugu Rangers 1–2 Enyimba International
03/12/2024: Enyimba International 0–0 Enugu Rangers
09/06/2024: Enugu Rangers 3–0 Enyimba International
20/12/2023: Enyimba International 1–1 Enugu Rangers
10/04/2022: Enyimba International 2–1 Enugu Rangers

Kick-off time can’t come soon enough.

2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 15: Enyimba Star Issues Rallying Cry Ahead of Fierce Oriental Derby

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