NPFL: Rangers happy to earn ‘valuable point’ at Akwa United
Rangers International F.C of Enugu, reigning NPFL champions earned a valuable point in their re-arranged Match Day eight, NPFL 2024/2025 fixture as they produced some splendid defending to deny home side, Akwa United the maximum points at stake inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Monday.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu opted for a 4-3-3 formation to counter the fast paced opponents led by coach Umar Abdullahi in the absence of technical adviser, Baba Ganaru, handing starts to Silas Nenrot, Kingsley Maduforo, Effimi Nsi, Frank Uwumiro and Lucky Abdullahi as he rested some of the regulars.
The host were the quickest to settle into their strides with Reuben Bala, Chijioke Alaekwe and Seyi Oguntayo pulling the strings upfront but Rangers back-four put up stiff resistance with Austin Opara and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi standing out as Lucky Abdullahi did well between the sticks.
On 28 minutes, the host saw a big chance go begging as Edidiong Ezekiel saw his effort blocked out while at the other end, Isaac Saviour could not believe how his effort failed to find the target a minute later after he was set up by Kazeem Ogunleye.
The biggest chance for the game to record a goal fell for Frank Uwumiro on 90+5 minutes when a mix-up at the back saw the ball fall kindly for him but his curled effort from an acute angle failed to rest in the net.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu said after the match, ‘We thank God for the result today as our opponent gave us a good fight but we were resolute at the back and could have gotten the winner late in the game.
‘Akwa fought very hard created chances but could not take them and that is football for you. After our loss at home, we had some heart-to-heart chat which to a large extent helped us with this result and we are happy with it.’
Rangers with the result, now have 11 points from eight matches and occupy the 8th spot on the twenty team log and will next be trading tackles with Kwara United in a match day 9 fixture this weekend at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
