Enyimba International have confirmed the departure of 22 players from their senior squad, with three others sent out on loan, ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The announcement comes as the club, under chairman Nwankwo Kanu, continues to grapple with financial issues and player welfare concerns.
Athletic NG can confirm that a number of players released earlier in the summer including Somiari Alalibo, Chidera Eze, Odinaka Francis, Chukwudi Nwaodu and Austine Onyemaechi are still owed outstanding match bonuses from last season.
Although the group received a second tranche of salary arrears two weeks ago, the bonuses have not been settled three months after an agreement was reached.
The latest batch of 22 released players now face similar uncertainty, with millions of naira in outstanding entitlements yet to be cleared.
Among those departing is former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye, who has previously criticised Enyimba’s treatment of players.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ideye wrote:
“Because I get money I should not ask for the one I work for? Please pay me and the players last season match bonuses. @EnyimbaFC. The season ended in May, till now nothing. New season will start next month,” Ideye wrote.
“You don’t receive match bonuses weekly or monthly. They accumulate it and give it at the end of the season,” Ideye said.
“There’s no fixed rate sometimes ₦15K, sometimes ₦10K, depending on what the captain and chairman agreed before the season.”
He added that players not included in the matchday squad are given a small consolation called “shiribe”, worth around ₦5,000.
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He had earlier criticised the club for reportedly giving players just ₦7,000 for daily feeding during away games, highlighting deeper issues in how the former continental champions treat their personnel.
Full list of released players
The 22 players released are:
Imo Prince Ikemdinachi
Musa Usman Babalolo
Innocent Gabriel
Nelson Michael
Alade Muyiwa Balogun
Nnachi Chidiebere
Chisom Ejio
Junior Lokosa
Fatai Abdullahi
Imo Obot Udo
Umeh Gozie
Olufemi Opeoluwa
Somiari Orinate Alalibo
Chidera Eze
Ukadiike Chiemerie Divine
Augustine Onyemaechi
Gideon Peter
Tobias Orkuma
Leonard Obinna
Brown Ideye
Ani Ozoemena
Elijah Akanni
Players loaned out are: Obichere Wisdom Odinaka, Purpose Ahubaraezemma, and Samuel Buah Nuako.
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Despite unresolved arrears and bonuses Enyimba Nigeria’s nine-time champions will open their NPFL campaign away to Barau FC, before home games against Niger Tornadoes and Nasarawa United.
