A late sublime finish from Jacob Detso helped Lobi Stars U19 secure a vital 1-0 victory over Rangers International U19, sustaining their momentum in Group B. The highly contested match was played at the Ginger Stadium in Isiala-Ngwa, Abia State.
Lobi Stars head coach Stephen Waghbo maintained the same starting XI that secured victory over Enyimba International U19 a fortnight ago.
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Despite heading into the match with intent, the youngsters couldn’t break the deadlock before halftime due to an outstanding performance by Rangers goalkeeper Michael Ezechukwu.
The Enugu-based goalkeeper’s agility denied Lobi Stars’ sensational winger Sani Audu twice, and the teams returned to the tunnel with a scoreline of 0-0.
Action resumed instantly, with Lobi Stars launching a series of attacks in search of the opener. However, all proved abortive, courtesy of Ezechukwu’s spectacular saves.
The Makurdi-based side continued to search for their opening goal through Daniel Onu, Audu, and Detso, but the goalkeeper’s heroics kept them at bay.
As the match seemed destined for a barren draw, coach Waghbo made a tactical switch in the 73rd minute, replacing Daniel Onu with Johnson Godswill.
The move paid off six minutes later when Paul Aver’s intelligent pass found Sani Audu, who cleverly passed to an unmarked Jacob Detso. Detso’s sublime finish in the 79th minute changed the scoreline to 1-0, sparking jubilation from the Lobi Stars bench.
The Makurdi-based side protected their slim lead till the final whistle, securing a crucial win. Head coach Stephen Waghbo praised his players for their strong character, saying, “This victory has brightened our qualification chances.
I deeply appreciate my boys’ strong character, which helped secure this important win. We shall continue to work hard.
With today’s victory, Lobi Stars maintains the top of Group B with 6 points, followed by Enyimba International with 3 points from 2 games. Up next, Lobi Stars will face Rivers United on Saturday, August 16, 2025, marking the end of the playoff.
