A thundering connecting header by Buhari Ibrahim off a long throw-in by Daniel Itodo on 6 minutes condemned Rangers International F.C to its second defeat of the season at its adopted home ground, F.C Ifeanyiubah Stadium, Nnewi in a matchday 10, NPFL 2021/2022 fixture.
The host started the encounter with much vigor as the trio of Christian Nnaji, Ossy Martins and Ejike Uzoenyi pushed for an early breakthrough but the backline of Alex Aghahowa, Buhari Ibrahim, and Daniel Itodo was alive to snuff out all threats before a counter-attack from the visitors resulted in what looked like a harmless throw-in.
As much as the coach Abdul Maikaba lads did to come back from the deficit, the visitors stuck to their plans with the goalkeeper, Victor Anozie, at his best to ensure that the ‘Tin City’ side smiled away with a rear road win over the ‘Flying Antelopes’ since 2011.
Elijah Ani, Samuel Pam, Christian Nnaji, and Shedrack Asiegbu all had opportunities to draw the home side level and even win the match but saw all their efforts miss the target by a few inches as the game came to an end.
Coach Maikaba of Rangers once again blamed the uneven nature of the pitch for his ward’s not too impressive display, stressing, “Sincerely, this is not the result we wanted. That is football for you. Our greatest undoing is the playing pitch. I have been saying it that we should get an alternative pitch. Plateau United did well. They are my former team. But, I believe that my players did not react well after conceding that early goal. We move on as there are many more matches to play to recover lost ground.”
Rangers will next travel to Bauchi this weekend for a matchday 11 fixture against Wikki Tourists as they drop to the 4th place on the log with sixteen points from ten matches played with Rivers United setting the pace with twenty-two points.
RANGERS TEAM: Bamidele Adeniyi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Bala Akintunde, Christian Madu, Ernest Governor, Ebuka Anthony, Ejike Uzoenyi (Chidiebere Nwobodo -46th Min.), Christian Nnaji, Ossy Martins (Elijah Ani -46th Min.), Kenechukwu Agu (Shedrack Asiegbu -46th Min.), Samuel Pam. SUBS NOT USED: Seidu Mutawakilu, Olawale Doyeni, Chinonso Eziekwe, Ikechukwu Eboko, Seidu Adamu, David Chimezie.
