NPFL: Ilechukwu takes positives from Rangers’ first home loss in 22 months to an Ahmed Musa-inspired Kano Pillars

Fidelis Ilechukwu, the head coach of Rangers international of Enugu says the 4-3 loss to Kano Pillars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu is hard to take but he will take the positives from the game as they prepare for their away trip to Uyo where they will face Akwa United on Sunday.

It was a better forgotten first period performance by the NPFL reigning champions as they surrendered the maximum points at stake to an Ahmed Musa inspired Kano Pillars F.C in a seven-goals thriller in a match day 7, NPFL 2024/2025 fixture.

The home side’s technical crew started much with the squad that lost by a lone goal at the weekend with the quartet of Japhet Opubo, Ikenna Stephen, Agu Kenechukwu and Anayor Ogbonna making the starting team but it was the visitors that had legendary Rabiu Ali and former Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa and national team mate, Shehu Abdullahi that got their rhythm the quickest in the encounter.

Two penalty kicks that were neatly converted by Rabiu Ali on 18 and 41 minutes after the referee spotted a handball incidence and a tripping incidence as well as a cool finish by Zulkifilu Muhammad on 29 minutes off a cross from Ahmed Musa and a sublime goal by the immediate past Super Eagles captain on 46 minutes gave the visitors a commanding 0-4 lead going into the break.

However, a quartet of substitutions from the coaching crew of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ that saw Hillary Ekawu, Anayor Ogbonna, Ikenna Stephen and Chiedozie Okorie exit the stage for Saviour Isaac, Frank Uwumiro, Silas Nenrot and Effimi Nsi turned the tide towards the home side as Saviour Isaac fired home on 46 and 58 minutes to half the deficit while Silas Nenrot slotted home another on 90 minutes after being set up by Frank Uwumiro.

‘Yes, in football it happens. We are not happy. I am not happy as well but this is one of the things that happen in the game of football.

‘I think Kano Pillars were better in the first half, in as much as I was not around in the first half, but I think in the second half we did better, breaking the jinx of only one goal a match since the start of the season.

‘Today, we scored three and it’s a sign that there is hope for the team. We have to take this small advantage of converting chances into our next game. We apologize to our fans that came out inside the rain today to cheer us despite the result of the game. We shall make it up for them,’ said Ilechukwu after the game.