Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Two goals in four first-half minutes off the boots of Chidiebere Nwobodo and Godwin Obaje ensured that Rangers International F.C of Enugu maintained its winning streak as it eased past hosts, Niger Tornadoes, in a match day 23, NPFL 2023/2024 encounter played inside the main bowl of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu made just two changes to the squad that defeated Remo Stars, midweek, with the duo of Kenechukwu Agu and Auwalu Naziru taking the places of Kazeem Ogunleye and Ugwueze Chinemerem in the fixture.
The first half saw the host taking the initiative and pushing the visitors into their defensive shells in the early parts of the encounter with Bolaji Adeyemo, Bashir Usman and Ikechukwu Nwani leading the assaults.
With the game approaching the quarter-hour mark, the visitors ventured forward with Chidiebere Nwobodo, Godwin Obaje, Zulkifilu Rabiu, and Auwalu Naziru dictating the pace of the movement as the host sank into their defensive shells.
On 22 minutes, Chidiebere Nwobodo latched onto an inch-perfect pass from Godwin Obaje to blast home the game’s opening goal to the disbelief of fans who came all the way from Minna while the traveling bench and officials went into wild celebrations.
Four minutes later, Godwin Obaje unleashed a canon of a shot that nestled inside the net after being set up by Auwalu Naziru. The celebrations from the visitor’s bench were ecstatic.
Efforts to increase the tally by the coach Ilechukwu-tutored side could not come to fruition as a combination of quality goalkeeping and some wasteful attempts robbed the opportunities created as the first stanza came to an end.
The host came back for the second stanza with more determination to get a crack at goal but the back line of Rangers anchored around Austin Opara, Onyebuchi Ifeanyi, Stephen Ikenna and Philip Clement stood their ground.
Even when they were breached, Japhet Opubo in goal was alert to deal with such situations as was the case in 75 minutes when he produced a full-length dive to punch out a well-struck free kick that was headed for the top-right corner of his net.
Godwin Obaje and Auwalu Naziru also saw their efforts on 51 and 71 minutes agonizingly come off the upright while the host also hit the upright on 67 minutes.
There was a cameo appearance for the General Manager/CEO of Rangers, Amobi Ezeaku, who was registered and licensed in the last window to play for the club, as he replaced Nwobodo with six minutes left on the clock and his contributions were applauded by the fans in the stand and his coaches.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match reactions, said, “It was a good game with a great result that we worked for.
“Our opponents today did their best but was not too lucky as we made use of two of the opportunities created while they could not take theirs.
“We are on a five-match winning run and must work harder to maintain the level we are currently operating.”
The win, which is the second on the road for the ‘Flying Antelopes,’ takes the team to the third position on the log with 40 points from 23 matches.
Rangers will next trade tackles with Kwara United in a match day 24 encounter at ‘The Cathedral,’ Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
