Newly appointed head coach Emmanuel Deutsch is confident that Enyimba FC can recover from a challenging Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign.

The Cameroon-born tactician replaced Deji Ayeni after a run of disappointing results left the nine-time league champions in the lower half of the table.

In his debut match, Deutsch guided Enyimba to a 1-1 draw against Rivers United in Port Harcourt, moving the club to 14th place with 32 points from 27 matches.

Despite the modest improvement, the NPFL season still has 11 games remaining, requiring immediate action to climb the standings.

“Enyimba are the best team in Nigeria, with back-to-back CAF Champions League titles, nine league wins, and multiple FA Cups,” Deutsch said.

“I’m not the best coach, but I will do my best to stabilize the team and ensure we finish the season strong.”

Midfielder Paul Odeh, who formerly played for Rivers United, echoed his coach’s optimism. “Changing coaches requires adaptation.

Players must quickly adjust to the new style of play and philosophy. There’s no time to waste, and we must give our all to climb the table,” he said.

Enyimba will host Kun Khalifat, a team also battling relegation, in Aba on Sunday.

The match offers an opportunity for the team to translate renewed belief into tangible results.

Both Deutsch and Odeh emphasized correcting past mistakes and committing fully to the campaign’s final stretch.

With the NPFL season entering its decisive phase, Enyimba fans are hopeful that Deutsch’s leadership and the squad’s adaptation can restore the club to its historical glory and secure a strong finish.