The reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Rangers International FC of Enugu were held to a goalless draw by visiting El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the opening game of the 2024/2025 NPFL season played inside Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Saturday, August 31, 2024, with both sides displaying great football artistry to the admiration of fans that thronged out to watch the match.
The season’ opening fixture had NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau; NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye; C.O.O of the NPFL, Prince Davidson Owumi; Enugu F.A Chairman, Barrister Tony Ugwu and many top football aficionados on ground to see a lot of innovations in place by the home side like the cresting of the match day jersey as it is done in other climes.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu lined up a starting squad that had two new players in the team, Evans Ogbonda and Ekeson Okorie getting selected with other notable players in the team that were crowned champions last season in a 4-3-3 formation that did all they could but failed to break the resistance of the boys from Maiduguri.
The efforts of Rangers’ forward line trio of Chiedozie Okorie, Ekeson Okorie and Saviour Isaac were well contained by the backline of the visitors ably led by Muktar Mohammed and Monday Daniel which eased the pressure on goalkeeper, Abine George.
On the other end, lone striker for the visiting team, Gimba Ajiji, was a torn in the flesh of Rangers’ defense led by Opara Austin and Onyebuchi Ifeanyi with his bulky frame and it took the timely clearance of Japhet Opubo on 24 minutes to deny Ajiji a good opportunity.
As the game progressed, more chances were created by the home side but went unutilized especially in the 32nd minute when the ball got stuck between the legs of Onyebuchi Ifeanyi with a yawning net at his mercy after some fine interchange of passes.
The introduction of the duo of Onyekachi Okafor and Bashir Usman further re-enforced the push for goal by the ‘Flying Antelopes’ but there was no bulging from the Maiduguri side who soaked in all that was thrown at them while trying to catch the home side with some great counter-attacking moves.
Rangers’ last substitute, Williams Wonah, got the greatest opportunity to grab all three points at stake in the last minute of added-on time but his effort was blazed over the bar after he was freed by an intelligent pass from Kazeem Ogunleye.
Coach Ilechukwu said after the encounter, “Today is one of our worst games we have played in this stadium and I am very sad about it because we had our game plan. But, you know, sometimes, football is very funny and things don’t go the way you plan and El-Kanemi is a very good side and they gave us a great match. We have to put behind us this result quickly and plan with a positive mind set for our coming matches. It was a disappointing performance from us, no doubt, but we must forge ahead.”
Captain of the side, Chinemerem Ugwueze, said in the post-match chat, “It was a bad day in the office for us. The result was not what we were expecting. I believe we are better than this. It’s just that our plans did not go as expected. Sure, we are concerned with the lack of goals patch that we are experiencing because without goals you can’t win matches but I believe that we shall soon find our scoring form and make our fans proud again.”
Rangers will next play host to Angola’s league runner-up, Sagrada Esperanca in the first leg, second preliminary round of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/2025 on 13-15 of September, 2024 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
