By Dayo Awoniyi
Enyimba International FC has been rocked by the departure of five key players, including club captain Alalibo Somiari, in what is being described as a major exodus ahead of the final stretch of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
Somiari is joined on the exit list by Eze Chidera, Nwaodu Chukwudi, Austin Onyemaechi, and Onyirimba Odinaka.
The sudden loss of this core group has raised concerns over the club’s ability to maintain its competitiveness, especially with Enyimba still in the race for continental qualification.
While the club has yet to officially comment on the circumstances surrounding the players’ exits, sources within the camp suggest that the departures were triggered by the withdrawal of the players’ licenses — an unusual and disruptive development.
It is believed the quintet are seeking improved contracts and career advancement, possibly outside Nigeria.
In response, the club has swiftly reassigned their jersey numbers to other squad members, signaling a rapid internal restructuring as they attempt to stabilize the team.
The two-time CAF Champions League winners and record eight-time NPFL champions now face a crucial period of rebuilding, with pressure mounting on management to reinforce the squad amid the ongoing league campaign.
The situation also underscores a broader challenge faced by Nigerian clubs — retaining top talent amid financial constraints and the lure of more lucrative opportunities abroad.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
