Enyimba Fined ₦5 Million and Handed Three Home Match Ban After NPFL Breach

Enyimba have been fined a total of ₦5 million and ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors after breaching the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules during their Matchday 21 fixture against Barau FC on January 18, 2026.

According to a report from the Nigeria Football League, the Aba-based club failed to provide adequate and effective security for the match. This lapse allowed unauthorized individuals to gain access to restricted areas of the stadium.

The report further stated that Enyimba did not ensure proper conduct among their supporters, which resulted in the harassment of match officials. In a more serious development, some supporters reportedly encroached into restricted zones after the final whistle and held match officials hostage for several hours.

The misconduct also led to the loss of valuable personal items belonging to the match officials, an incident the league described as capable of bringing the game into disrepute.

As part of the sanctions, Enyimba were fined ₦2 million for failing to provide adequate security and an additional ₦1 million for allowing encroachment into restricted areas. The club was also fined ₦1 million each for the misconduct of their supporters and for holding match officials hostage, bringing the total financial penalty to ₦5 million.

In addition to the fines, Enyimba will play their next three home matches without spectators. The People’s Elephant have been given 48 hours from the date of the notice to file an appeal against the sanctions.