The Origin

Enyimba International Football Club of Aba popularly called “The Peoples Elephant” was founded in November 1976 under the leadership of one of Nigeria’s leading Sports Personality of old, Sir Jerry Amadi Enyeazu.

He was the first Director of Sports in the then newly created Imo State, South East of Nigeria. The club is therefore the property of the Abia state Government, South East Nigeria with the carving out of Abia from Imo state on 27th August 1991.

After its formation, due to the traditional and well established clubsides in the country, Enyimba did not make any impact in the 70s and 80s, not with the famous Rangers of Enugu, Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Insurance of Benin holding sway. Enyimba never won any laurels till the professional league was inaugurated in the country in 1990.

In the first season of the professional league, Enyimba finished 13th on the table with 36 points. The Club played 30 matches; won 5 drew 14 and lost 11. It scored 25 goals and conceded 36, with a difference of -11.The league then had a 16 team format.

In 1992/93 Enyimba was relegated to the second division. However, the club returned to the elite division, setting a record in the second division as the team emerged the champions in grand style winning with a massive 96 points which is a record in Nigerian football history till date.

The history of the Peoples Elephant, changed in 1999 when a dynamic young man and business mogul, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu emerged as the newly elected Governor of Abia state after several years of military rule in Nigeria.

Between 1994 & 1996 Enyimba placed 3rd & 4th respectively before they started recording epileptic performances which spanned for six years.

The New Dawn

The history of the Peoples Elephant, changed in 1999 when a dynamic young man and business mogul, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu emerged as the newly elected Governor of Abia state after several years of military rule in Nigeria.

Things began to shape nicely for the team from that point.

In his inaugural speech, the sports loving Governor, like the Chelsea financier, Roman Abramovich took personal interest in making sure that Enyimba International football club of Aba becomes the best club in Nigeria and Africa.

One of the first things the Governor did was to change the Enyimba management board. This brought in a young vibrant, witty and result oriented chairman of the club Felix Anyansi Agwu.

In realization of his dreams with the new management team, the Governor fulfilled his promise to the football crazy people of Abia state as Enyimba won their first Nigerian professional league crown in 2001 under Coach Godwin Koko Uwa.

That year, Enyimba was invited to Italy on August 19th to play an International friendly match against Inter Milan in honour of their Brazilian striker Ronaldo who recovered from an injury.

Back home, the Nation’s football elite perhaps thought Enyimba’s league victory was a flash in the pan. This was however repeated in 2002, 2003 & 2005 under Coaches Kelechi Emetole and Kadiri Ikhana and Okechukwu Emordi who later went to Bush Bucks of South Africa (All former internationals).

Enyimba thus became the first club in Nigeria to win the Nigerian professional league for keeps. They also capped all these with the F.A. Cup for the first time in 2005, a year the club became the double Champions in Nigeria.

Enyimba Int'l FC's entire winning track-record is the richest among all Nigerian football clubs. With 2 CAF Champions League Trophy, and a number of trophies, won locally, the club is currently ranked 2nd in the CAF Club Rankings and unarguably the most successful in Nigeria with millions of fans across the continent.

The full honours are listed below.

CAF Champions League
Champions 2003, 2004

CAF Super Cup
2004, 2005

Premier League
Champions 2001, 2002, 2003.
Runners-up 2004
Champions 2005
Champions 2007

FA Cup
Champions 2005

Over seven years after becoming Chairman of Enyimba Int'l FC, Aba, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu has earned the reputation of being the most successful club administrators of all times in Nigeria.

With a glistering list of honours which include two CAF Champions League trophies, Chief Felix's remarkable achievements has thus placed him on par with Africa's most accomplishing soccer administrators.