The Flying Antelopes dictated the tempo from kick-off, forcing the visitors deep into their half and thrilling home supporters with early attacking pressure.

Wing-back Kenneth Igboke opened scoring in the ninth minute, sending the home crowd into wild celebration.

Two minutes later, Chigozie Iwundu doubled the lead in the 11th minute, further electrifying the stadium.

Remo Stars responded late in the first half, as E. Kingue scored in added time to reduce the deficit before the interval.

After the restart, Remo searched for an equaliser, but Rangers struck again through Wisdom Ebirim in the 62nd minute to extend the lead to 3–1.

Igboke completed his brace in the 90th minute, sealing a commanding 4–1 victory and helping Rangers maintain second place with 50 points.

The win keeps Rangers firmly in contention for continental qualification next season.

Remo Stars coach, Usman Abdallah, said his side played well but were unfortunate to lose by such a margin.

“We will keep fighting till the end; there is still time for us to make it, and I remain positive,” he said.

Rangers’ stand-in coach, Ekene Kenedilichukwu, praised both teams and commended his players for their determination.

“Remo are NPFL champions and difficult opponents. I commend my boys for getting the job done. It is a sweet victory and I am happy,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The encounter played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu started with both teams showing their determination to win.

The free-flowing Wikki boys made serious incursions into Rangers 18-yard box at the beginning of the match but could not penetrate the flying Antelopes back.

However, the home team broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Wisdom Ebirim put Rangers ahead.

In the 35th minutes of play veteran striker, Godwin Obaje, made it two for Rangers to end the match 2-0 in favour the home team at half time.

In the second half the visitors took the initiative, especially in the midfield forcing the home team to their own half.

Rangers also created some half chances but could not increase the tally.

In a post match interview, the Acting Coach of Wikki Tourist, Bashir Sale, lamented the mistake of his boys

“Scoring was our problem today; we came to win but the boys were not clinical enough.

“We will work on our play ahead of next match, ” he said.

Fidelis Illechukwu in a post match interview hailed his players for playing to instructions.

“Everybody wants to win league but at the end the better team won.

“We are still within reach to win the NPFL, ” he said.

The win now takes Rangers to 43 points after 43 games.

Source: NAN

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The match played at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kofar-Mata, witnessed a large turnout of supporters in spite of the ongoing Ramadan fast.

The home team dominated the game but failed to  convert thier chances in the process.

Bashiru Usman netted the opening goal for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, while Pillars’ captain, Rabiu Ali, equalised for the home side from the spot in the 42nd minute, marking his 11th goal of the season.

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Jerry Alex headed home the winning goal in the 60th minute, following a cross from Abdullahi Ali.

In an interview after the game, Pillars’ assistant coach, Ahmed Garba, expressed satisfaction with the players’ performance throughout the encounter.

He said that the victory would boost his team’s morale as they aimed to make a significant impact in the remaining league matches this season.

Garba said that the win against Rangers would lift their spirits ahead of their match against Kwara United on Sunday.

In same vein, Fidelis Ilechukwu, Rangers coach, said that the team would prepare intensively for their upcoming match against Akwa United with the aim of securing maximum points.

Pillars with 42 points from 27 games will play their next game against Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.

Source: NAN

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The win moves United closer to the round of 16.

After Cyriel Dessers levelled in the 88th minute, Fernandes popped up with a crucial strike that will come as a huge relief to Ruben Amorim.

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United had seen a first-half header from Matthijs De Ligt controversially ruled out but led through a bizarre own goal from their former back-up goalkeeper Jack Butland.

The win moves United up to fourth in the standings, two clear of the cut off for the top eight places.

But Rangers, who at least scored against United for the first time in five meetings, dropped to 13th, with the play-offs looming large.

Source: dpa/NAN

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They won their Match Day 18 fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne with two late goals.

Jabbar Malik scored in the 84th and 88th minutes for the three points to take them to 33 after 18 games, made up of 10 wins, three draws and five losses.

They have scored 21 goals and conceded 11, to be ahead of title rivals Rivers United of Port Harcourt on goals difference.

Rivers United have the same 33 points from 18 matches from nine wins, six draws and three losses after scoring 18 goals and conceding 10 for a +8 goals difference.

They dropped to second after drawing 1-1 with hosts Nasarawa United in Lafia on Sunday, after cancelling out the hosts’ 14th minute lead gained through Joshua John.

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Kabiru Abdullahi’s 50th minute penalty kick goal saved their blushes.

The weekend’s biggest result was in Enugu where hosts Rangers International fell to eternal rivals Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, of Ibadan 0-1.

Ikouwem Udo scored in the 28th minute for the win which helped them to leapfrog Rangers into the third position, after amassing 30 points from 18 games.

They got nine wins, three draws and six losses from 17 goals scored and 13 conceded, to be two points ahead of Rangers who are now fourth with 28 points from 18 matches.

In other match day 18 fixtures played on Sunday, Abia Warriors of Umuahia beat visiting Ikorodu City of Lagos 2-0 while Kwara United of Ilorin beat Katsina United 1-0.

On Saturday, Bendel Insurance of Benin beat Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0, while Kano Pillars beat visiting Niger Tornadoes of Minna 2-1.

Sunshine Stars of Akure also beat fifth-placed El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 1-0 in Ikenne.

The remaining match day 18 fixtures will see Akwa United of Uyo hosting Heartland FC of Owerri on Monday and Plateau United hosting Enyimba International of Aba on Thursday in Jos.

The league’s first round will end on Sunday, December 29 with match day 19 fixtures.

Source: NAN

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The 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, runners-up crashed out after losing 2-3 aggregate to Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat.

Remo Stars lost 0-2 on the night at the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.

The Nigerian side had won the first leg fixture on August 18 in Ikenne 2-1, but they could not withstand the Moroccans’ offensive blitz in the second leg game.

Two second half goals did the job for the hosts, with Joel Beya who scored their lone goal in Ikenne opening scores in the 53rd minute.

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With about 12 minutes left and Remo Stars holding out, a penalty kick was awarded to the home side and El Amine Zouhzouh made no mistake from the spot.

Remo Stars loss meant two of Nigeria’s representatives in club football on the continent have crashed out just one round into their respective competitions.

On Saturday, El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club of Maiduguri had been eliminated from the African Confederation Cup competition’s first preliminary round after a 2-3 aggregate loss.

Nigeria now has only one club each in the two continental competitions.

Enyimba International FC of Aba had drawn bye in the opening round into the second preliminary round of the African Confederation Cup competition.

Rangers International FC of Enugu had on Friday advanced into the second preliminary round of the African Champions League competition, after a 2-1 aggregate victory in the opening round.

Source: NAN

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Director of Strategy for the competition, Onome Obruthe, said he was shocked to see the spectators turning up for an event in its inaugural edition.

“It was a surprise the way fans turned out and we believe this also affected the teams because the standard has been very impressive. We are so excited about this and expect better tidings in the days ahead in the competition,” Obruthe said.

IfeanyiChukwu Ogbu, Managing Director, SKI HI Entertainment said he was particularly happy that all the participants were having a great tournament.

“Our expectation is to stage a hitch-free event and that is why we have been working round the clock in the past few month. Thank God, the event is going on well,” Ogbu said.

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The Coal City International Cup started with two traditional rivals, Rangers and Enyimba locking horns at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium apparently in preparation for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.

Rangers coach, Fildelis Ilechukwu, admitted that his team was lucky to have won the match despite being at the receiving end in the better part of the encounter against Rangers.

“It was a good game but Enyimba really took the game to us. The victory was sweet but I acknowledge the exhibition of Enyimba,” he said.

Saturday has been scheduled as rest day for all the six teams taking part in the competition in Enugu.

The teams are Rangers, Enyimba, Shooting Stars, Remo Stars, Coal City and FC Kalon of Siera Leone.

The tournament continues on Sunday while the final is slated for August 8.

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The visitors from Yenagoa had gone ahead through Alax Oyowah in the 36th minute after absorbing a number of attacks by the hosts.

But Rangers returned to parity through a penalty through Godwin Obaje in the 48th minute and later went ahead in the 87th minute when Chidera Ezeh curled a spot kick into the net.

The victory which is the first after the break, placed the Flying Antelopes on seventh position on the log of the Group B after three wins, three draws and four loses in the National Professional Football League, NPFL.

In a post-match press conference, Rangers Coach Mbwas Mangut described the victory as hard fought and well deserved.

Mangut said his team remained a work in progress as their performance wasn’t the best they could offer while pouring encomiums on the competitive prowess of the visitors.

He said they placed more emphasis on garnering more points in their away games and ensuring that they did not drop any point at home.

Source: NAN

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It was the Group B Match Day 7 fixture in the abridged 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

The Flying Antelopes went ahead in the 39th minute when Chidera Eze converted a spot kick following a careless tackle on goal bound Austin Onyemaechi.

The victory brings the points haul of the Enugu based side to 8 from 7 games with two wins, two draws and three losses.

Speaking to newsmen after the match, Head Coach of Rangers, Abdul Maikaba, said the team had recovered from the initial lacklustre form and returned to winning ways.

Maikaba said the club would work on its away records to ensure that they not only gather points at home but also from away games.

He commended his players for giving a good account of themselves while admitting that Doma FC were equally a good team.

On his part, Coach Akinade Onigbinde of Doma FC, said his team anticipated a tough game against Rangers and played according to plan.

Onigbinde, who regretted the loss, blamed it on the careless tackle that resulted in the penalty.

Doma FC are currently fifth on the Group B table with 9 points from two wins, three draws and two losses.

Source: NAN

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The match, which was played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, saw the flying antelopes winning a penalty at the 54th minute of play.

The penalty was converted by Christian Nnaji, while Elijah Ani made it 2-0, again from a penalty spot.

The goal came two minutes into the added time after the 90 minutes regulation time.

Speaking at a post-match interview with journalists, Rangers Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance.

According to him, every game came with win or lose and today, we are at the side of a win.

“This victory came our way as a result of the technique we adopted after the interval and it paid off,” Yusuf said.

Rangers now occupy the fifth position on the league with 33 points after 19 matches, while Enyimba remain in the seventh position with 31 points after 18 matches.

It would be recalled that the match, which was to be played on April 4, was shifted because of Enyimba’s continental engagement.

Source: NAN

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