Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The ‘Flying Antelopes,’ Rangers International F.C. of Enugu, on Sunday secured its 8th Nigerian Premier League title with one round of match in the 2023/2024 NPFL season to spare.
The team achieved the feet as it defeated the ‘Benin Arsenals,’ Bendel Insurance 2-0 in a capacity filled Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium that had Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, live on the stands.
With the results from other match venues which saw other title contenders faltering, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu boys go into the last round of matches with a healthy five-point gap from the closest of the chasing pack.
Coach Ilechukwu had seven of the starters in the midweek loss at Ibadan having a place in the starting squad against perennial rivals from the Benin Kingdom.
The coach also welcomed back, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Godwin Obaje, just as Isaac Saviour and Kazeem Ogunleye, were handed a starting place and they did not disappoint as the visitors were pushed back into their defensive shells in the early part of the encounter.
The visitors had goalkeeper and captain, Amas Obasogie to thank for his heroics between the sticks to deny the home side a goal despite its dominance in the first stanza but could do little to stop a Kenechukwu Agu well-measured free kick on 32 minutes from over thirty meters from nestling in the net as the capacity crowd went into wild jubilations.
Philip Clement almost made it two goals for the Coal City lads with a 35 meters pile driver which Obasogie did well to push over the bar for a harmless corner kick just as Chidiebere Nwobodo who was bossing it over the coach Monday Odigie tutored side had two golden opportunities well defended as both sides retired for the first stanza.
On resumption of the second half the visitors upped their game and came out of their defensive shells with Divine Nwachukwu, Evans Ogbonda, and Chisom Okereke pulling the strings but they met a well-marshaled defense line of the host ably anchored around Onyebuchi Ifeanyi, Philip Clement, Ikenna Stephen, and Opara Austin.
In a counter-attacking move that saw a Divine Nwachukwu miss a golden opportunity to level scores for his side, Chidiebere Nwobodo who shorn like a million stars in the encounter was released by Isaac Saviour as he cleverly chipped on-rushing Obasogie for the second goal for the home side on 65 minutes as celebrations went over the rooftops.
Substitutes, Kingsley Maduforo and Okorie Chiedozie also came close to having their names on the score sheet but could not due largely to the expertise of Obasogie between the sticks for Insurance.
Coach Ilechukwu said in a post-match chat, “It was a great game against a big side like Insurance but we stuck to our game plan and got our goals that have pushed us to the point of becoming Nigeria league champions for the 2023/2024 season.
“With the results from other centers, I am quite sure that we have done well enough to be crowned the league champions.
“We are approaching the last match of the season against Gombe United; we shall remain focused and work hard, trusting that God will guide us to our desired goals.”
With the victory, Rangers have amassed a total of 67 points from 37 matches with a goal difference of 22 going into the last league match of the season against already relegated, Gombe United at the New Jos Stadium in the ‘Tin City’ on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
The league trophy, medals, and financial rewards are expected to be presented to the Enugu side at the end of the match with many football stakeholders expected to be on the ground to witness the epic presentations.
