Tag: Enugu Rangers

Former champions Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers will light up the Lagos Waterfront tomorrow  in what is unarguably the star match of the Round of 16 of the men’s competition of this year’s President Federation Cup.

The two teams were involved in two of the most memorable final matches of Nigeria’s Cup competition in its 80-year history, with honours shared in 1978 and 1981.

The Benin Arsenal tore apart the form books to shock the nation’s football fraternity by spanking Rangers 3-0 in the final in Lagos in 1978, but the Flying Antelopes somewhat repaid the compliment with a 2-0 win at the same venue in 1981.

The setting for this Round of 16 clash is also in Lagos, though a different venue. But fireworks are expected by the waterfront from two teams aspiring for continental football.

Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, who eliminated Cup holders El-Kanemi Warriors in the Round of 32, will take on Abakaliki FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United will square up to each other in the university town of Anyigba, while Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists battle things out in the Federal Capital, Abuja.

Read Also:Rangers target President Federation Cup

Two great entertainers, Ikorodu City and Beyond Limits will be at each other’s jugular at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where Solution FC will tango with Kwara United in an earlier game. Plateau United will confront Osun United in Anyigba.

Akwa United and Inter Lagos are at loggerheads in Abuja.      

Round of 16 fixtures (Men):

16-04-25: Enyimba FC (Abia) Vs Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) – Asaba –4pm

16-04-25: Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Anyigba – 10am

16-04-25: Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Area 3 Abuja – 1pm

16-04-25: Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Beyond Limits (Ogun) – Benin City – 4pm

16-04-25: Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Area 3 Abuja –4pm

16-04-25: Solution FC (Anambra) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Benin City –10am

16-04-25: Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Osun United (Osun) – Anyigba –1pm

16-04-25: Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – MJA Lagos –4pm

On Friday, Enugu Rangers of Nigeria advanced to the first round of the CAF Champions League after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by US Zilimahjou of Comoros to go through 2-1 on aggregate.

NPFL champions Rangers had to wait till the 79th minute before they broke the deadlock through Augustine Kenechukwu.

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Substitute Ekeson Okorie was brought down inside the box on his way by the goalkeeper, and Kenechukwu saved the resulting penalty.

However, the visitors rallied back to equalize six minutes later.

Rangers won the first leg a week ago at the same venue courtesy of a first-half headed goal by Frank Uwumiro.

Rangers International has secured the signature of teenage dynamite, Chimobi Igwilo, who has been a terror to defenders while featuring for the youth team of Rangers.

The player signed a three-year contract with  the  NPFL 2023/2024 champions and would be expected to challenge for a place in coach Fidelis Ilechukwu’s squad being built to successfully defend the trophy and go far in the CAF Champions League 2024/2025.

Read Also: Enugu Rangers open four points gap in NPFL title race

 “It is a dream come true for me as I have been dreaming of putting on the jerseys of the great club, Rangers International F.C. I am humbled by this decision to hand me a contract and I hope to give my best in every situation to ensure that we succeed as a team,” Igwilo stated.  

G.M/CEO of Rangers, Amobi Ezeaku , said after the contract signing ceremony: “Igwilo is a special talent and management is happy to have him put pen to paper for us to showcase his talent to the world. He has a lot that will be thrilling to behold when the new season commences.”   

Enugu Rangers pulled away from the chasing pack following a 3-0 home win over Bayelsa United; Enyimba made it a double win over Abia Warriors while Shooting Stars secured important away point in Katsina to brighten their CAF Club competition hope as Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 33 fixtures were decided yesterday.

A brace from Godwin Obaje for his 11th  of the season while Chiedozie Okorie added the third as the Flying Antelopes galloped over the Prosperity Boys at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. The Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men are atop with 60 points and four points more than Enyimba who needed Bernard Ovoke’s 72nd minute goal to move to the second spot with 56 points.

Read Also: Enugu Rangers open three points  lead  in NPFL

Shooting Stars conceded a stoppage time goal to play a 2-2 draw at away to Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. Moses Effiong bagged the opener for the Changi Boys in the 16th minute but the Oluyole Warriors scored twice through Daddy Abdulrahman and Adam Mustapha. When they thought they had secured all points Michael Ibe struck in the 96th minute to ensure honours are shared. 

Shooting Stars with Gbenga Ogunbote in charge are fourth on the log with 53 points while Katsina United are in seventh spot with 49 points.

At the Lafia City Stadium, Lobi Stars surrendered their unbeaten home record to Akwa United who defeated them 2-1 to boost their survival hope. Sani Suleiman was the star of the show scoring twice in the 22nd  and 68th  minutes to put the Promise Keepers 2-0 up. Abubakar Ibrahim Aliyu reduced the arrears in the 78th  minute but it was too little too late as Akwa United grabbed their second away win of the season.

Akwa United moved out of the relegation zone due to the feat and are now 15th  on the log with 40 points ahead of their weekend league tie with Heartland FC in Uyo. Lobi Stars lost more ground in the race for the league title. They are fifth with 52 points. 

At the New Jos Stadium, Plateau United all but blew their faint chance of winning the league title after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Niger Tornadoes. The Peace Boys lost a penalty kick in the game. They are sixth with 51 points but nine points away from league leaders, Rangers. 

In Port Harcourt, Rivers United sealed third consecutive win in all competitions with a 4-1 whiplash of Sporting Lagos.

Nyima Nwagua, Andy Okpe’s double and Seiyefa Jackson debut goal put the Noisy Lagosians on the rope. Michael Tochukwu got one back for the visitors from the spot kick.

With the win, Rivers United are eighth on the log with 47 points while Sporting Lagos are 14th  with 41 points. They are just one point away from the relegation zone. 

In Kano, Kano Pillars continued their recent resurgence with a 3-1 win over Doma United who have now slipped to the relegation zone because of their second round awful form. Ibrahim Mustapha, Abubakar Ibrahim Bawo and Rabiu Ali were on the score sheets for Sai Masu Gida while Musa Usman got the Savannah Tigers’ only goal. 

Kano Pillars are ninth with 47 points while Doma United are in the 17th spot. 

Kwara United took a long dash away from the drop zone to the 11th spot with 44 points after a hard fought 3-2 win over Remo Stars in Ilorin. The Harmony Boys went 3-0 through Wasiu Alalade, Isaiah Ejeh and Ahmed Akinyele (own goal) but the Sky Blue Stars scored two quick-fire late goals through Franck Mawuena and Dayo Ojo but the home team held on tenaciously for the three points. Remo Stars slipped to the third with 56 points.

Bendel Insurance got a morale boosting goalless draw in Akure against Sunshine Stars while Heartland FC thrashed Gombe United 3-0 for their biggest win of the ongoing season.

Promise Anyanwu scored a brave while Chukwudi Esobe got the other goal as the Naze Millionaires improved to 32 points from 33 games. 

NPFL MATCHDAY 33 RESULTS

Plateau United 0-0 Niger Tornadoes

Heartland FC 3-0 Gombe United

Rivers United 4-1 Sporting Lagos 

Kwara United 3-2 Remo Stars

Kano Pillars 3-1 Doma United

Lobi Stars 1-2 Akwa United

Sunshine Stars 0-0 Bendel Insurance 

Rangers 3-0 Bayelsa United

Katsina United 2-2 Shooting Stars

Abia Warriors 0-1 Enyimba FC

• Five star Enyimba hammer Kano Pillars

Enugu Rangers consolidated their stronghold at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)  following their home win over Sunshine Stars while Enyimba and Lobi Stars bagged positive results to stay in the top three as Matchday 28 fixtures were played yesterday.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Enugu Rangers defeated Sunshine Stars 2-0 through Kalu Nweke and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi’s goals to open up a three points gap at the top of the table.

 They have also extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games under the tutelage of Fidelis Ilechukwu.

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Enyimba were truly at home at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba after they smashed former league champions, Kano Pillars 5-0 in a rampaging performance that has taken them to second spot with 48 points. Eze Ekwutoziam, Mbaoma Chijioke, Joseph Atule’s double and Muyiwa Alade with the goals for the People’s Elephant. Pillars slipped to eighth with 41 points as a result of the big loss.

At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, Lobi Stars halted the recent winning home run of  Sporting Lagos following a 1-1 draw.

Junior Lokosa put the Noisy Lagosians a goal up in the 31st minute but Samuel Tiza got the equaliser for the Price of Benue in the 59th  minute.

Enugu Rangers host Lobi Stars in top of the table clash as South West derby beckons again. Enugu Rangers will be at home to the league leaders, Lobi Stars in the top fixture of the weekend games while Shooting Stars and Remo Stars will ignite the South West derby again writes TUNDE LIADI

Enugu Rangers will strive to close the four point gap between them and league leaders, Lobi Stars when they host the Pride of Benue in the unarguably the star game of the Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 26 fixtures while the South West derby between Shooting Stars and Remo Stars promises to be action packed as well.

In Enugu, Rangers will stake their seven games unbeaten run against Lobi Stars who are the league leaders with 46 points. The Flying Antelopes are winless in their last two matches after going on five straight victories. Stubborn Kwara United snapped the wins in Enugu but they recovered to pick a 1-1 draw in Kano against Pillars. Fidelis Ikechukwu’s men are third on the log with 42 points and could move to second spot with a home win against the Pride of Benue at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium tomorrow if Plateau United who are currently second with 44 points failed to record a positive result against Katsina United away.

Remo Stars were detonated 4-1 in Lagos last weekend by Sporting Lagos and the loss ended their 14 games unbeaten streaks in the South West derbies involving Sporting Lagos, Shooting Stars and Sunshine Stars. The Sky Blue Stars will visit Ibadan tomorrow to protect their unbeaten record against the Oluyole Warriors. The game ended 3-0 in favour of Remo Stars in the first round.

The Daniel Ogunmodede led side need another away win to spark to life their league title aspiration having fallen four points behind Lobi Stars but with a game at hand. They are presently fourth with 42 points. They are up against Shooting Stars who are seventh with 37 points tomorrow. The Gbenga Ogunbote men are on two game winning streak including the 1-0 away victory over Doma United.

Shooting Stars’ pride is at stake in Ibadan having not beaten Remo Stars before in any topflight fixture. The 3-0 defeat in Ikenne in the first leg is still fresh.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa United will host Kano Pillars who are seeking their first victory after four games winless streaks. Pillars last win was on February 25th, 2024 a 5-1 whiplash of Sunshine Stars in Kano. They have lost twice against Katsina United (3-2) and Abia Warriors (1-0) before the consecutive draws against Rivers United and Enugu Rangers after that impressive win over the Owena Whales. Pillars are in sixth spot with 38 points and eight points adrift of the top.

Read Also: Enyimba vs Enugu Rangers: Finidi eyes three points in oriental derby

In Umuahia, Abia Warriors will play their second home game since their return to the Umuahia Township Stadium against Sunshine Stars tomorrow. They were beaten 2-1 by the Owena Whales when the first leg was played in Akure and are without a win in their last two matches against Lobi Stars (1-1) and Heartland (2-0).

Only a win will help steady stand-in coach, Bethel Orji at the helm of affairs of the club having taken over from suspended coach, Erasmus Onuh-Olottah.

Sunshine Stars visit to Umuahia will also see Kennedy Boboye return to the place he once worked as head coach of Abia Warriors.

His recent return to Akure has produced some impressive results including the 3-1 win over Plateau United; 2-0 victory over Lobi Stars and the draw in Awka against Heartland FC.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers United will hope to return to winning ways when they host Heartland FC. The game ended stalemate in Owerri when the first leg was played.

Rivers United without head coach, Stanley Eguma at the dugout lost 3-2 in Lafia to Lobi Stars on Wednesday after the home draw with Kano Pillars last weekend. They need a home win to keep their faint continental ticket hope alive. They however have three outstanding games at hand against Kwara United (home), Remo Stars (away) and Niger Tornadoes (home) due to their CAF Confederation Cup involvements. 

Heartland FC secured their first win in nine games with the 2-0 defeat of Abia Warriors but they will be under immense pressure to consolidate on that in Port Harcourt. The arrival of Mike Idoko to complement the work of the Naze Millionaires’ management has brought a breath of fresh air in the Owerri based side and things are gradually taken shape again.

In Benin, Bendel Insurance will be at home to Doma United. Both teams suffered defeats in their last game with the Benin Arsenals losing 3-1 in Uyo to Akwa United while Doma United lost their second game at home to Shooting Stars.

In Lagos, Sporting Lagos will host Kwara United after they were beaten 1-0 in Kaduna by Niger Tornadoes. They thrashed Remo Stars 4-1 in their last home game and the Harmony Boys must be wary of that when they visit the Noisy Lagosians this weekend.