Two goals from reliable striker Joseph Atule and former Super Eagles player Brown Ideye made the difference as Enyimba defeated Kano Pillars 2-1 in Aba on Saturday.
Atule opened the scoring in the 35th minute, while Ideye added a second in the 48th minute for the Elephants.
Pillars came out in the second half in search of an equaliser, making several incursions into the Enyimba box and firing shots.
Enyimba goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena made a crucial save in the 71st minute, but Naibe Akpesiri eventually pulled one back for Pillars in the 81st minute.
