Enyimba have moved to reshape their football leadership by appointing former Nigeria defender Uche Okechukwu as the club’s new sporting director, footynaija.com reports.
The Aba-based club confirmed that Okechukwu replaces the outgoing sporting director, with chairman Nwankwo Kanu formally notifying the former international of the decision in a letter that underlined the club’s confidence in his experience and temperament.
Enyimba believe his grounding as an elite player, combined with a deep understanding of football structures, will be vital as they look to raise standards across recruitment, youth development and long-term planning.
🚨 This appointment should change Enyimba’s fortune.
— MR OLAWALE QUADRI 🇳🇬 (@QualityQuadry) January 31, 2026
To many setback for the club since the appointment of Kanu Nwankwo and Ifeanyi Ekwueme.
ENYIMBA FC APPOINTS UCHE OKECHUKWU “GENTLE GIANT” AS SPORTING DIRECTOR
Enyimba Football Club is pleased to officially announce the… pic.twitter.com/3mk0v9Gjja
For Enyimba, the appointment signals an intent to blend tradition with structure.
The nine-time Nigerian champions last won the NPFL title in 2023 and are eager to reassert themselves consistently at home while rebuilding towards continental relevance, two decades after their last CAF Champions League triumph.
Okechukwu arrives with a résumé that commands respect across Nigerian football. Nicknamed the “Gentle Giant”, he built his reputation on composure and leadership, traits Enyimba hope will translate smoothly into boardroom decision-making.
His playing career began domestically with Flash Flamingoes and Iwuanyanwu Nationale, where he won back-to-back league titles before moving to Europe in 1990. In Denmark, he became a key figure at Brøndby, winning league titles and earning the club’s Player of the Year award in 1992. Further success followed in Turkey with Fenerbahçe, where he added two league crowns.
Internationally, Okechukwu was central to Nigeria’s golden generation, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, featuring at two World Cups and claiming Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996.


















