In the last 30 years, the rivalry between Heartland and Enyimba has grown in the NPFL. This Sunday’s fixture will be the 54th league meeting between both sides. I look back at what I have witnessed as my top meetings between both clubs.
Heartland 2-3 Enyimba (March 10, 2012)
This game tops the bill of past meetings for me in recent years. This Matchday 13 fixture was full of goals and a proper derby it turned out to be as well. It lived up to its pre-match hype as it swung back and forth, and end-to-end. Heartland were two goals up inside 20 minutes through Kabir Umar and Abdul Haruna as Enyimba struggled to settle down at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
In the space of 10 odd minutes, Heartland blew their two-goal lead as Chinonso Okonkwo and Nzube Anazemba scored on 30 and 40 minutes respectively to leave the score tied 2-2 at the break. The People’s Elephant completed the comeback with Henry Uche scoring the winner at the start of the second half.
Anyway, the People’s Elephant did the double on Heartland that season but finished in fourth place behind eventual champions Kano Pillars, Rangers International and Lobi Stars in that order.
Enyimba 0-2 Heartland (January 15, 2020)
This was a much anticipated game that season as both clubs paraded top performers in the NPFL at the time. Enyimba has present Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who wa preferred in goal ahead of Theophilus Afelokhai as well as the like of Andrew Abalogu, Reuben Bala, Victor Mbaoma, Cyril Olisema, Stanley Dimgba, Chukwuka Onuwa, Abdulrahman Bashir and Stanley Okorom in their playing personnel.
Heartland were also packed with recognisable names in goalkeeper Ilechukwu Ezenwa, Benjamin Francis, Chukwuemeka Obioma, Sadiq Abubakar, Jide Williams, Isah Lengkat and youngster at that time, Samuel Nnoshiri.
Ezenwa turned out the hero as he kept out Dimgba’s attempt from the spot and that paved way for Sadiq Abubakar to score a brilliant individual goal and Obioma who was on loan from Enyimba netted the second to give Heartland a 2-0 win. Both goals scored in the first half.
Heartland 0-1 Enyimba (November 25, 2023)
At this point last season, Heartland were struggling to get points on board. Their head coach, Kennedy Boboye, who had just taken charge following their poor start to the season made changes to the starters in a bid to get a result. Despite his best effort, Finidi George got one over him. The game looked destined to finish goalless when Finidi opted to take off Chijioke Mbaoma for Stephen Chukwude. Well, Chukwude needed just three minutes to score the winner and it proved to be an inspired substitution for the People’s Elephant as they ran out 1-0 winners in that Matchday 10 fixture.
Heartland 2-1 Enyimba (October 4, 2015)
Probably this was the last time if I am not mistaken I saw an Heartland side full of pace and zest. Their squad for this game had a combination of strong tacklers, dribblers and speedsters in Chinedu Efugh, Julius Ubido, Olawale Doyeni, Chidiebere Ajoku, Bright Ejike, Fortune Omoniwari, Emeka Ogbugh and veteran Victor Ezeji.
Heartland’s constant press from the front led to Enyimba finishing the first half with a man light when Ifeanyi Anaemena was sent off following two bookings within three minutes – that was the magnitude of pressure. Oh, Omoniwari stepped up and scored from the free kick that led to Anaemena being sent off. Interestingly, Enyimba levelled the score to 1-1 in added time of first half through Markson Ojobo’s spot kick.
The second half was about how long could Enyimba hold off Heartland. They couldn’t. Ogbugh, known for scoring eye-catching goals, produced a sublime finish on the hour mark to help Heartland claim the full points in that Matchday 32 game.
Enyimba 1-1 Heartland (April 27, 2016)
I would simply describe Enyimba’s performance in this game by the words of one of my respected colleagues, Fisayo Dairo. He simply termed it: “Out-of-sorts Enyimba forced to a draw.” Indeed, their performance was out of sorts. The odds were high against Heartland as Enyimba were titleholders and their squad had depth and big hitters. Imagine having a bench that included Mfon Udoh, Abi Azeez, Dare Ojo, Kamal Sikiru, Ike ThankGod, Ugwu Uwadiegwu and goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo back then for this derby.
This match was basically wrapped up at the tail end of the first half. Peter Onyekachi scored for Enyimba after benefiting from a defensive error on 27 minutes but the lead lasted just four minutes. Ifeanyi Onuigbo popped up at the other end to head home the equalizer.
Enyimba has the chance to wrap things up in the second half with their dominance but Christian Pyagbara turned out the biggest culprit with a couple of goalscoring misses.
