Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Enugu Rangers International FC’s winning streak in the 2023/2024 NPFL season was cut short by the resolute defending of visiting Kwara United F.C inside the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu, as the match ended goalless.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu kept faith with the majority of the squad that secured the massive win in Kaduna over Niger Tornadoes with Chukwudi Nwaodu, Kazeem Ogunleye, and goalkeeper, Detan Ogundare finding a place in the starting line up.
Goalkeeper Salihu Dogo of Kwara was the busier of the two shot-stoppers in the first quarter-hour of the encounter and was the reason the goals refused to flow as he blocked and parried all that was aimed at his goal especially the fierce shot from Kazeem Ogunleye on six minutes just as he also did well to deny Godwin Obaje on 27 minutes.
On 37 minutes, Kenechukwu Agu’s well-struck free-kick deflected off the wall of defense mounted by the goalkeeper just as further missed opportunities by Philip Clement, Obaje, and Zulkifilu Rabiu towards the end of the encounter meant that the ‘Afonja Warriors’ escaped from ‘The Cathedral’ with a share of the points.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu in his post-match chat, said: “It was not a good game for us because it was a game we prepared very well for and thought that we were going to get all three points but in football, so many things happen and we just had a bad day in today’s match, especially in the first half.
“It was an unfortunate experience for us. This result is a temporal setback but we hope to get something good when we play Kano Pillars in our next game in Kano.”
With the result, Rangers now occupy the 4th spot on the 20-team log with 41 points from 24 matches and will travel to the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, for a match day 25 fixture scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
