By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 5, 2026

The government of Abia State is currently probing the management of Enyimba Football Club of Aba over the $1m African Football League prize money the club received for participating in the 2023 edition of the tournament, just as their players are protesting over unpaid allowances, The PUNCH reports.

Enyimba participated in the maiden edition of the tournament, which was created by the Confederation of African Football with support from FIFA in 2023, losing out in the quarter-finals stage.

The nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions were beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Wydad Casablanca. Enyimba had lost 1-0 at home to the Moroccan club in Uyo on October 22, 2023, before falling by three more goals four days later.

Despite the defeat, they earned $1m from the competition’s $14.4m prize money.

Over two years after their participation, The PUNCH confirmed that the handlers of the club were summoned by the state government on Monday to account for how the money was spent, among other issues relating to the club’s administration.

“It is true, the management of the club was summoned by the state government to give an account,” an official of the club, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH.

“It all began with the move of the chairman to replace the sporting director who resigned. He was trying to appoint one of his former teammates in the national team, but the state government rejected it and appointed another person on Monday,” he added.

Reports in Aba say the state government wants a clear breakdown of expenditures, including player-related costs, logistics, administration, and any infrastructural or operational spending tied to the CAF funds.

While the club faces a probe of the funds, their players are also protesting the non-payment of their allowances.

There was confusion at the club’s training ground on Wednesday, where members of the technical crew were present, while the players were not. Multiple reports say the players chose to train without the coaches at a separate location.

“Since we started the season, they haven’t paid us any of our allowances, and they keep getting money from the government. Some of our teammates have left over these issues because they couldn’t cope. Their excuse is that they will pay them together,” one of the players told The PUNCH.

Sources in Aba also suggest that the players are demanding clarity and proper management of the team, as the club recently announced the appointment of a new coach, Emmanuel Deutsch, just days after appointing Deji Ayeni.

Efforts to get the club’s chairman and former African Player of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo, to react to the players’ protest were unsuccessful, as he didn’t respond to messages and calls made by our correspondent.

Last season, 2013 AFCON winner Brown Ideye, who signed for the club on a short-term basis, also called them out over unpaid allowances and poor welfare.

On the pitch, Enyimba has been disappointing this season, sitting in 11th position with 31 points after 24 matches, 10 points behind leaders Rivers United, who have three outstanding matches.

Their next game is against Bendel Insurance in Benin City.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 5, 2026

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