Enyimba vs Ikorodu City: Preview as winless travellers visit Aba

Enyimba host Ikorodu City in Aba on Sunday needing a home win to climb out of the NPFL relegation zone, against visitors who have drawn six of their 12 games and are still waiting for a first away win.

The nine-time champions have 11 points from 12 matches after a 1-0 defeat at Ranchers Bees in Minna last weekend, and they have lost seven league games already.

Ikorodu City sit four points better off, on 15, after a 2-2 draw with Inter Lagos at Onikan last Monday.

Enyimba have tried to rally their supporters before the game. “This Sunday, we host Ikorodu City. Come and cheer the People's Elephant to victory. Enyimba Enyi!” the club posted on social media, as reported by Complete Sports.

Match facts

Form guide: Aba is where Enyimba earn their points

Enyimba's record of three wins, two draws and seven defeats looks grim, with a goal difference of minus four, but the split matters. At home they have won three, drawn one and lost two, which means every one of their wins has come at home.

Ikorodu City have won three, drawn six and lost three, with a goal difference of plus two. On the road, they have drawn three and lost three of their six games.

Head-to-head: Ikorodu's last visit

The last meeting in Aba went Ikorodu's way. Joseph Arumala scored the only goal at the Enyimba International Stadium in February 2026, a win that took Ikorodu top of the table at the time.

Analysis: A meeting of two sides who cannot finish games

The numbers point to a narrow game. Enyimba need their home form to carry them, while Ikorodu have turned so many games into draws that a point in Aba would fit their season exactly.

That suits Ikorodu more than their hosts. A draw keeps them four points clear of Enyimba, while for the home side, anything less than a win leaves them stuck near the bottom with the second half of the season getting closer.

Enyimba's problem is the scale of their slump, which Soccernet looked at earlier this week. A win over a side that has not won away would be the clearest sign yet that the run is turning.

For Ikorodu, the challenge is turning draws into wins. Six away games without a victory is the one gap in a record that is otherwise steady. For the wider picture of the round, see Soccernet's Matchday 13 guide.

Verdict

Enyimba's home record gives them a chance, but Ikorodu rarely lose by much and have made a habit of sharing the points. A draw is the most likely outcome.