NPFL: Israel Adesanya wins N6.5m after Enyimba beats Lobi as Olanrewaju attributes victory to teamwork

Nigeria’s UFC fighter, Israel Adesanya, on Wednesday, won the $4,000 (approximately N6.5 million) bet he placed on Enyimba to win their rescheduled matchday three fixture against Lobi Stars.

The clash took place on Wednesday at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

Adesanya shared the news of his wager through his X handle, drawing significant attention from his fans and the football community alike.

 “It’s a goal,” Adesanya wrote on X with his Enyimba jersey.

Adesanya’s bet showed that he was tipping the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League champions to win with an estimated payout of $5,930.

This latest stake comes after the UFC Fighter placed a bet of $10,000 on Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight fight against Daniel Dubois on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the head coach of Enyimba Yemi Olarenwaju has praised his team’s resilience after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lobi Stars in their rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash.

“We’re happy to get the three points; that’s what matters,” Olarenwaju said. “The league is a marathon and every game counts. Getting maximum points at home is crucial.”

Ufere Chinedu opened the scoring on his home debut in the 13th minute with a stunning strike. Captain Eze Ekwutoziam doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 15th minute. Lobi Stars’ Waheed Adebayo pulled one back with a 37th-minute volley.

“We started strong, dominating the first 20 minutes, but complacency crept in,” Olarenwaju admitted. “We sat back, and that wasn’t good enough. We allowed Lobi Stars to gain momentum.”

Despite the lapse, Enyimba FC held on for the vital win.

“We’re putting this game behind us and focusing on Rivers United. I’m very excited,” Olarenwaju concluded.

Enyimba FC’s victory moves them up the NPFL standings, bolstering their title ambitions. The win also marked a positive return to league action for the People’s Elephant, following their recent continental engagements.

Enyimba FC will look to build on this momentum as they face Rivers United in their next NPFL encounter at the Adokiye Amesiemeka Stadium on Sunday 29th September with kick-off slated for 3 pm.